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Bedbug bites: When bedbugs bite, you often see clusters of bites. Each cluster usually contains 3 to 5 bites that appear in a zigzag pattern. How do you know if you have bedbugs?

To find out if you have bedbugs, you need to look for two things:

Bites on your body: If you have bedbugs, youre likely to have bites. Bedbug bites usually cause itchy welts. These welts usually appear in a zigzag pattern as show in the photo above.

Youll seldom see bedbugs, so many people mistakenly believe that mosquitos, fleas, or spiders bit them. Sometimes people mistake bedbug bites for a common skin condition such as an itchy rash, hives, or chickenpox.

To make sure you have bedbugs, youll need to look for signs of bedbugs.

Although bedbugs dont usually require serious medical attention, they can cause a great deal of anxiety and restless nights. To help find bedbugs before they find you (and your belongings), dermatologists recommend looking for the following signs near places where you sleep.

Signs of bedbugs: This step is important. If you have a bedbug infestation, you need to find out so that you can get rid of the bedbugs. Getting rid of the bedbugs is the only way to stop the bites.

If you have a large number of bedbugs, you may see the bugs. Most people, however, only see signs of bedbugs. To look for signs of bedbugs, check the places that people sleep for the following:

If you see bedbugs, they will likely scurry toward the closest hiding place. Any dark place such as inside a mattress or even a picture frame makes a good hiding place.

As you watch bedbugs move, it can look like they are flying or jumping because they can crawl quickly. Bedbugs cannot fly or jump; they can only crawl.

If you find signs of bedbugs, call a pest-control company or your property manager. You should not use bug spray or a fogger. These products have little effect on bedbugs.

You should see a dermatologist for treatment if you have:

Your dermatologist may prescribe the following to treat bedbug bites:

Allergic reaction: Some people may require an injection of an antihistamine, corticosteroid, or epinephrine (adrenaline) for a severe allergic reaction.

Infection: An infection may require an antibiotic. If the infection is mild, your dermatologist may recommend an antiseptic medication that you can buy without a prescription. Your dermatologist will tell you which one to use. Your dermatologist also may recommend an antiseptic to prevent a skin infection.

Itch: A prescription antihistamine pill or liquid can help. You also can apply a corticosteroid to the bites. Your dermatologist will tell you which is best for you.

If you do not have any signs of an infection or a serious reaction, you can often treat the bites at home.

To treat bedbug bites:

Bedbug bites usually heal and go away within a week or two.

References: Leverkus M et al. Bullous Allergic Hypersensitivity to Bedbug Bites Mediated by IgE against Salivary Nitrophorin. J of Invest Dermatol. 2006;126:2364-2366. Liebold K et al. Disseminated bullous eruption with systemic reaction caused by Cimex lectularius. J Euro Acad of Dermat and Vener. 2003;17:461-463. Steen CJ, Carbonaro PA, Schwartz RA. Arthropods in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004; 50:819-42.

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Bedbugs | American Academy of Dermatology

overview

Bed bug bites are an allergic skin reaction caused by fluids excreted when the insect punctures the skin. Most people show no skin reaction. People that do have a reaction get small red pus filled bumps on the skin. In chronic cases it can cause skin swelling, wheals or even blisters. Reactions can be seen within 30 minutes or in rare cases days later. Bed bugs do not transmit disease, so bug bites are more of an unpleasant source of discomfort.

Treatment for most people is as simple as treating any itch and letting the body heal itself. Bites should clear on their own in 3 to 5 days. In severe cases the bites cause hives, skin blisters and welts. Reactions can appear days after the bite occurs. Each bite episode can vary with skin reactions worsening each time it happens.

There is no limit to the number of bites you can get each night. If you are sleeping in a bed that is infested, then hundreds of bed bugs could feed on your blood. If there is a small infestation, then expect a smaller number of bites. As you can see from the picture below, this young girl has hundreds of bites.

A Bed bug bites in order to feed on the blood of a human host. A single bug may bite several times in one place on the body. If the bugs are in a specific hiding place and your body comes in contact with where they are hidden, such as a seam in the bed, then that area that comes in contact with the seam will be filled with bites in a straight line along the seam.

Different people will have a wide range of allergic reactions to the bite. This includes a minimal reaction to something more severe. Over time, the body tends to have a stronger reaction.

Single or groups of bites are common. Frequently, you see 3 bites in a triangle which could be caused by one or multiple bed bugs.

Bed bugs like to bite bare skin areas. This is why bites are frequently seen on the lower arms and legs. One strategy to avoid being bitten on the legs is to wear socks over the bottom of pajamas.

They will also bite under lose fitting clothing if it is easy to find skin.

They tend to avoid the face and the bottoms of the feet. Bed Bugs do not bite through clothing.

Bed bugs do not actually bite. They puncture the skin. When a bedbug punctures the skin with the stylet or beak, the host will feel a light pinch if anything. When the bug bites, it transfers saliva into the human or animal host.

You are more likely to not feel the actual bite, but feel the "itch" or allergic reaction your body has to the bite.

A bed bug has two tubes on its mouth which are inserted into the host. One of the two tubes inserts saliva into the host and the other draws blood. Feeding lasts for approximately 5 minutes. A bed bug prefers to feed on blood every 5 to 10 days, but can last up to a year without feeding.

Bed bugs prefer to bite or feed on a host at night or just before dawn. They avoid sunlight when possible.

Bedbug bites can look like the bites of other insects such as mosquitoes, spiders and chiggers and also look like the marks caused by several diseases such as chicken pox.

The bites take on different forms based on the reaction. It could look like a circle or "wheal" or a series of small blisters. There are certain bite characteristics that help you distinguish between bed bug bites and other causes:

Notice in the picture of bedbug bites and how some bites are in a line, possibly along a vein, and others are random, based on where the bugs may have been hiding in a seam on a mattress. It is possible for different types and patterns of reactions to be found after being bitten.

Some, actually most people are not allergic to bedbug bites and will show no skin reaction. Others will have a reaction 1 hour to 2 days later. It is even possible to have the first reaction 2 weeks later.

The usual reaction is skin welts, bumps and in some cases, the skin form blisters that contain puss. Hives can also form that when measured can be up to 8 inches. It is rare for a more severe allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock, where the airway can become constricted and even cause death. Skin itch is also a common reaction.

The bed bug bite looks like the bites of other insects such as scabies, lice, mosquitoes and fleas. For this reason, a Doctor will not know if a bite is caused by a bed bug just from the appearance. To confirm that bed bugs are a problem, look for other problems such as dark stains on a mattress or an actual insect.

For most people, bedbug bites do not need to be treated. Itch should go away in 1 to 3 days with the use of an anti-itch cream like cortisone. If the reaction to the bed bugs looks like it is severe then see a Doctorfor a corticosteroid or an antihistamine.

Do not scratch the ares bitten in order to avoid infection. You could also try an anti-itch cream like Aveenoor calamine lotion.The key is to use a cream to calm the skin and then treat any infection with antibiotics if necessary. Treat bites as you would the bites of any other insect.

Bed bug bites will only end when the insects are removed from your home or apartment. Killing bedbugs is not easy, since they remain hidden in cracks until they come out at night.

The best approach is to call in a bed bug pest control professional, who has the knowledge and experience to do an inspection, assess the extent of the bed bug problem and then recommend a treatment plan.

Search our exterminator database to find a qualified local bedbug exterminator near you from our list of qualified experts. Please keep in mind that if the bed bugs are not treated correctly, insects missed will begin to multiply and the problem will return. Don't use a pest control company unless they have extensive experience treating bed bugs.

Make sure the firm you select provides a guarantee since 2 to 3 treatments may be needed. It is easy to miss bedbug eggs that hatch after the initial treatment was completed.

For smaller infestations and to do it yourself we recommend purchasing a bed bug kit. Multiple products are needed to remove both the bed bugs and their eggs.

For more information see our guide on getting rid of bed bugs.

Each of these free brochures provides additional information on bed bug bite symptoms, patterns and treatment.

Bed Bug Bite Basics

How to recognize bed bugs bites.

Written by: Gary A. Alpert/span>

Available in a free Ebook

What You Need to Know about Bed Bugs and Their Bites

Pictures and descriptions of bite reactions.

Written by: Stephen L. Doggett

Available in a free Ebook

Do you have a question or great story about bed bugs? Share it!

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Mayo Clinic

Harvard School of Public Health

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Bed Bug Bites: Pictures, Patterns, Symptoms and Remedy

After the initial reaction of discovering bed bugs in your home it is very likely the next thought will be:

Can they make my family sick?

The good news is that there have been very few cases of bed bug bites causing more than inflammation at the sight of feeding. Though getting rid of the bugs and keeping them from coming back is a headache, you can rest knowing that they are more a disgusting annoyance than a danger to your health.

Lets take a closer look at bed bug bites and bed bug bite symptoms.

How do you know when you have been bitten by a bed bug?

Bed bugs pierce the skin of the host with their elongated beaks. The bed bug injects an anti-blood-clotting chemical called apyrases which allow them to withdraw the blood. They will feed for 5-10 minutes until gorged.

There is no one overall reaction to being a host. The reality is that most people do not even know they are the source of the bed bugs meal. There may be no obvious marks on their body and no sense of having been bitten. The majority of the time bed bugs feast while their hosts are sleeping which is another reason they are less likely to feel such a tiny sensation.

Not everyone is this lucky. There are reported and verified cases in which the host has a severe reaction, often in the form of swelling, and welts. Because the bed bug does its by night, many times the reaction of redness, swelling or itching is attributed to mosquitoes. This of course, allows for the infestation to continue until the bed bugs are discovered.

One telling sign of the bed bug bite versus that of the more familiar mosquito is the body part which contains the redness or swelling. Bed bugs tend to host on parts of the body that are exposed while sleeping. Therefore, you are going to find them on the neck, face, upper arms, shoulders and hands.

As mentioned earlier, in most cases there is no major concern of illness caused by serving as a host to bed bugs. There are however, pathogens that are found in the body of the bed bugs but they do not seem to be transmitted to humans or other hosts. Generally, the bites are more annoying than they are dangerous. Much like other bug bites, that of the bed bug tends to be itchy and may cause inflammation when scratched. It is important to remember that scratching that itch can further cause infection.

The best way to treat the bed bug bites are to relieve the bite symptoms with the use of an antihistamine or corticosteroids prescribed to reduce discomfort. Other over the counter topical ointments may also be used.

A well regarded product combination that fits the bill is All Stops Healing Gel and ProEcza Cream. The ProEcza relieves your itchy skin while the Healing Gel goes to work deeper into the infected bite to minimize the irritation. What this means is that it helps you stop itching right away and it also calms the irritation down so your skin reaction isnt so severe. Youve seen pictures of bed bug bites they can be embarrassing to go out in public with.

Just as with any treatment to a wound, especially with children, the infirm or the elderly, it is wise to talk to a physician or pharmacist to help you find the best relief of the discomfort caused by bed bug bites.

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Treating Bed Bug Bites / How to Treat Bed Bug Bites

Bed bugs resurged worldwide in the late 1990s.Once limited to hotel and motel rooms, these blood-sucking insects (both the Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus) became a problem in many homes, hotels, and even movie theaters.

These recent infestations are probably due to insecticide resistance and increased international travel, according to a study published in Clinical Microbiology Review.

Fortunately, bed bugs aren't known to spread contagious diseases.

However, these blood-sucking insects can cause anemia if you get too many and may trigger asthma attacks.

With an appearance like many other common bites, bed bug bites often appear as small itchy raised red areas on exposed skin - usually a few days after the actual bite. Some children and adults don't develop a reaction to the bites at all, even after repeated exposure.

On the skin, the bites can appear as:

There is not a direct link between poor sanitation and bed bug infestations. A pristinely clean living space is as vulnerable as a messy one. Usually, sleeping in a place where multiple people have sleptincreases your risk. You might especially suspect bed bugs if you or your child:

A proper diagnosis is the important first step to successful treatment. Unfortunately, clinicians commonly misdiagnose bed bug bites as:

Once correctly identified, there are no bed bug specific treatments for people, but you must eliminate these pests from your home. Your clinician might prescribe:

Although treating bed bug bits isn't difficult, actually getting rid of the bed bugs is another story. Many people report that they have to throw away mattresses and other household items.

A professional exterminator can help.

In order to minimize your risk, you can:

Sources:

Bed Bugs. Biology and Management. Harvard School of Public Health.

Doggett, et al. Clinical Microbiology Review: Bed Bugs - Clinical Relevance and Control Options (2012)

Richard Pollack, Ph.D. and Gary Alpert, Ph.D. Bed Bugs.

Michael F. Potter. Extension Entomologist. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture

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What Are Bed Bugs and What Do the Bites Look Like?

What do bed bug bites and the resulting skin rash look like? Do the bites transmit diseases? See pictures and get answers about the symptoms, treatment and prevention of bed bug bites and rash.

There are few scenarios more disconcerting than waking up in the morning to find rows and clusters of bites on your body. And it is even more chilling to think that you may be sleeping with the enemy that have feasted upon you all night, sucking their fill on your blood for three to five minutes at a time.

Initial signs of being bitten are usually the skin reaction to bed bug bites. To find out if you have been bitten, check if you have the following symptoms:

Note: For some people, when bitten by bed bugs, the bites can develop into intense itching with an allergic response.

The appearance of bed bug bites depends upon the individuals response to the bites. For some people, the reactions to the bites may be delayed from 5 to 14 days before any signs of the welts start to appear. Others who are more skin sensitive may also develop skin rash after being bitten.

Below are some photo references from victims on what bed bug bites and the resulting skin rash from the bites may look like:

Bed bugs are attracted to the carbon dioxide that we exhale and our body heat which explains why they tend to attack at night, while we sleep. Any exposed areas of the bodies while we sleep are target spots for a bed bug to bite. The most common areas reported by victims include the face, neck, back, hands, arms and legs.

Unless you have an allergic reaction to the bites (which is very rare), bed bug bites do not hurt as the bug releases an antiseptic ingredient that numbs the skin temporarily. For most people, the bites typically swell and itch within a few hours of being bitten and may develop into a rash. For others, the symptoms of the bites may take 5-10 days to show up.

Skin rashes from bed bug bites usually last for three days before fading. However, people who are extremely sensitive to the bites will display the rash symptoms for up to a week or more and may require professional medical attention to get the bite rash to dissipate entirely.

For many people, it can be difficult, if not impossible to spot the difference between bed bug bites from other arthropods such as fleas and mosquitoes due to the resemblance of the bites. Even for some doctors, they may not immediately recognize the dermatological reactions of the bites to be from bed bugs and often, mistook them to be from mosquitoes, ticks or scabies and in some real cases, even misdiagnose the bites as hives or an allergic skin rash.

To tell the difference between mosquitoes and flea bites vs bed bug bites, look for the following symptoms:

Flea bites are usually smaller and the swellings are hard to the touch. Fleas also tend to leave multiple bites in random pattern, especially around the ankles and legs. The bites can be itchy up to a week and when scratched, it can result in an open wound or infection. In most cases where the victims are bitten by fleas, they may have previously came into close contact with pets like dogs and cats or wildlife including rabbits, raccoons, squirrels and rats which may carry fleas that bite humans.

When bitten by mosquitoes, the bites flare up quickly and itch immediately, but commonly after a day or so, the itch and swelling usually disappear. The wheal of mosquitoes bites are also slightly raised, bigger and unevenly shaped. There are no definite bite patterns and the bites of mosquitoes also appear more isolated across different parts of the body and doesnt appear in any cluster formation.

The characteristics of bed bug bites usually look like little red bumps that appear in groups or a cluster formation of 3 lined together (often nicknamed breakfast, lunch, and dinner). The reaction to the bites may differ from person to person and symptoms can take from a few minutes to more than 10 days to show up. For most individuals, the bites of bed bugs will itch severely and the discomfort may continue with each passing day. Some people may also develop an allergic response.

If one is still not sure about whether the bites come from bed bugs, fleas, mosquitoes or other insects, pest control experts recommend taking a few minutes to examine the bed sheets for any telltale bloodstains that bed bugs often leave behind after a blood meal. At the same time, inspect the seams, folds and edges of the mattress where you or the victim sleeps for any signs of the live bugs since bed bugs are nocturnal creatures and often hides around these areas of the mattress during the day.

Currently, there are no medical evidence to suggests that bed bugs or their bites transmit disease or are contagious.

Medical and scientific research concerning whether bed bugs carry infectious diseases are still ongoing, and while some studies detected the presence of Hepatitis B virus in the bugs after a blood meal, there are still no medical evidence to prove nor support that the viruses reproduce or spread any diseases in humans.

In very rare cases, people who have experienced an allergic reaction suffered anaphylaxis, a condition that may cause hives, shortness of breath and lowered blood pressure, according to a report from the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The psychological impact of an infestation can cause increased stress, anxiety, depression, paranoia and other mental and emotional issues. Even after a home is free of bugs, people may feel intense fear that a re-infestation will occur.

Treatment for bed bug bites or the resulting skin rash typically involves the use of local antiseptic lotion, antibiotic cream or ointment. Go for corticosteroid creams and oral antihistamines to help reduce the itching, swelling or redness as well as treat any allergic reaction to the bitten areas.

If one does not have theseantibiotic creams around the house, try using an icy compress or running lukewarm water on the welts to help temporarily relieve the discomfort and irritation. Avoid or limit scratching the affected areas. If there are any open wounds due to scratching, wash and keep the bite areas clean to prevent any secondary infection to the wound.

Depending on individuals dermatological response to the bites, most bed bug bites as well as skin rash can take from a few hours to as long as two weeks to heal and resolve.

For those who experience severe allergic reaction, skin infection or pain due to bed bug bites, see your doctor right away.

Since bed bugs, in most cases, attack their victims during the night while they sleep, the first line of defense would be to invest in quality bed bug proof covers to help encase the mattress protect against the bugs and aid in the prevention of the bites.

As a preventive measure, one can also add Climbup Interceptor to the legs of the bed that will prevent prevent bed bugs from climbing onto your bed. Alternatively, for beds without legs, a popular choice would be to stick double-sided tape around the bed.

Alternatively, one can also apply bed bug pesticides like Diatomaceous Earth to defend your perimeters around the area where one sleeps. Diatomaceous Earth helps dehydrates and kills the bed bugs upon contact.

If you suspect you have an infestation, the best piece of advice would be to call in a certified professional to inspect and treat the house.

For travelers: do a little bit of due diligence on the Bed Bug Registry to check for any complaints of bed bugs in the hotel you intend to stay and always, performing a quick check on the hotel mattress, sheets and headboard can help prevent any encounter with bed bugs and their bites.

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Bed Bug Bites & Rash: Pictures, Symptoms, Treatment ...