What happens if bed bugs bite




















A severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis is also possible but rare. You may have an infection and need treatment with antibiotics. Page last reviewed: 21 January Next review due: 21 January A dramatic immune response may be a sign of an allergic reaction. If this is the case, one of the following may need to be administered:. If infection occurs, antibiotics may be prescribed. Severe itchiness may result in further complications, such as infection or scarring.

If severe itching is experienced, people may be prescribed corticosteroid creams and antihistamine pills or liquid.

One way to help prevent exposure and potential infestations by bed bugs is to be able to recognize bed bugs and distinguish them from other pests. In a study , some 35 percent of polled American business travellers and 28 percent of leisure travellers were unable to tell a bed bug apart from other household pests.

The nymphs are easier to see if they have just feed when the blood fills their abdomen, giving it a reddish brown color. Adult bed bugs are typically far easier to spot than nymphs.

Identifiable characteristics of most adult bed bugs include:. On average, one female can produce at least eggs over her lifetime. Egg-laying females often increase the volume and frequency of feeding to support their brood. The key to preventing bed bug bites is to stop the insects entering, feeding, and breeding in human environments. In the daytime, bed bugs often seek refuge in the cracks and crevices of furniture, flooring, walls, and mattresses.

The seams and folds of upholstered furniture can also offer an ideal hiding place. Bed bugs have been known to persist in vacuum canisters or units. The insects tend to pick hiding spots near human sleeping quarters, including bedrooms. Bed bugs found in other rooms are usually a sign of a severe infestation. However, they are typically itchy, and they may appear clustered or lined up in rough rows.

It can be difficult to distinguish bedbug bites from other insect bites or rashes. In general, the sites of bedbug bites usually are:. Some people have no reaction to bedbug bites, while others experience an allergic reaction that can include severe itching, blisters or hives. If you experience allergic reactions or severe skin reactions to bedbug bites, see your doctor for professional treatment.

Bedbug infestations usually occur around or near where people sleep. They hide in the cracks and crevices of:. Bedbugs can move from one site to another by traveling on items such as clothing, luggage, furniture, boxes and bedding. Bedbugs can crawl about as fast as a ladybug, and can easily travel between floors and rooms in hotels or apartment complexes. Bedbugs don't care if their environment is clean or dirty.

In addition to over-the-counter medications, there are several home remedies that may help relieve the symptoms of bedbug bites. Although more research is needed, some studies suggest that camphor oil, chamomile oil, or some other types of essential oil may help relieve bug bites. Take a moment to learn more about seven essential oils that might help treat bites. If you suspect that your baby or child has been bitten by bedbugs, check their sheets, mattress, bed frame, and nearby baseboards for signs of the bugs.

To treat bedbug bites on your baby or child, wash the bites with soap and water. Consider applying a cold compress or calamine lotion. Some medications may not be safe for babies or young children. If your child is old enough to understand your instructions, ask them not to scratch the bites. Bedbug bites and fleabites are quite similar in appearance.

Both can cause red bumps to form on your skin. Both can be very itchy. When fleas bite you, they typically bite the lower half or your body or warm, moist areas around joints. For example, they may bite:. If you suspect that bedbugs or fleas have bitten you, check for signs of the bugs in your home. Bedbugs often hide in the seams of mattresses, cracks of bed frames and headboards, and baseboards around beds. Fleas tend to live on family pets and in carpet or upholstered furniture.

Get the information you need to identify and treat infestations of these pests. Bedbug bites and mosquito bites can both be red, swollen, and itchy. Bites that appear in no apparent pattern are more likely to be mosquito bites. Both bedbug bites and mosquito bites tend to get better on their own, within a week or two. To relieve itching and other symptoms, it may help to apply a cold compress, calamine lotion, or other topical treatments.

Taking an oral antihistamine can help as well. Find out more about the differences between these types of bites. Sometimes, people mistake hives for bedbug bites. Hives are red bumps that can develop on your skin as a result of an allergic reaction or other cause. A small group or line of bumps that appear on one part of your body without changing shape or location are more likely to be bedbug bites.

If you develop hives along with breathing difficulties, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting, get medical help right away. You might be experiencing anaphylaxis , a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Learn more about anaphylaxis and other potential causes of hives. Spider bites can be red and itchy, much like bedbug bites.



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