Bed Bug Bite

Is this your symptom?

• Bites from bed bugs

Symptoms of Bed Bug Bites

• Usually cause itchy, red bumps in a group or line
• Often they look like a hive or mosquito bite
• Bite may have a red dot (puncture) in the center. This is where the bed bug bit through the skin.
• Some times, a small blister can occur in the center
• Bites are usually on exposed skin (arms, legs and face)
• Bites are usually first noted in the morning, but the reaction can be delayed. You could have been bitten, for example, while you were staying in a hotel a week ago.

Diagnosis of Bed Bug Bites

• Bed bugs are small blood-sucking bugs.
• Live bed bugs hide and are not usually seen. Looking closely at the mattress may find some.
• They are ¼ inch (6 mm), flat, oval shaped, reddish-brown bugs.
• Suspect bed bugs if more than 3 red bumps in a row are on exposed skin. The bumps or bites are very itchy.
• Bed bug waste is found on bedding or mattress seams. It looks like dark brown flecks or coffee grounds.
• A blood stain on the sheet may sometimes be found. This is from a bug squashed after feeding.

Cause of Bed Bug Bite Reactions

• The skin bumps are the body's reaction to the bug's saliva.
• While the bug is sucking blood, some of its secretions get mixed in.
• During the day, bed bugs hide in the corners of mattresses. They may also be found in bed crevices, floors, and walls.
• At night, the bed bugs come out of hiding. They feed on humans for about 5 minutes.

Prevention from Getting Bed Bugs

• More than half of bed bug infestations within homes start after recent travel.
• Avoid hotels and hostels where bed bugs have been reported.
• When you check into a hotel room, look for signs of bed bugs. Look for flecks of their waste (look like coffee grounds) in the bedding and mattress. If present, ask for another room.
• Keep your luggage and clothing on a luggage rack off the floor.
• When you return from a trip, place all travel clothing into the clothes dryer. Run the dryer for 20 to 30 minutes. Reason: the heat will kill any bed bugs or their eggs that are present. One pregnant bed bug can spread bed bugs to an entire house.

Frequent Questions (FAQs)

• Can bed bugs transmit HIV or hepatitis? This is highly unlikely. It has never been reported.
• Do bed bugs like dirt? Not really. What bed bugs like is the warmth of the human body. Dirty and cluttered spaces just give bed bugs a place to hide.
• Are bed bugs too small to be seen? No. You can see adult bed bugs. They are about the size of an apple seed (4-7 mm; ¼ inch).
• Are bed bugs afraid of the light? They do prefer darkness. But keeping the light on will not stop bed bugs from biting you.