Bed bugs are a nuisance that may cause itchy, uncomfortable bites. Bed bug infestations may be difficult to discover and difficult to eliminate.
What are bed bugs and what do they appear like?
Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that require the blood of humans or animals to survive. When they bite, they drink blood. Although they don't transmit disease, their bites may cause irritation. Bed bugs are found all around the world and are difficult to regulate.
Even if you will have a bed bug infestation, chances are you'll not see many bed bugs since the bugs are primarily nocturnal, coming out at night to feed. Plus, their small size allows them to cover in hard-to-reach places like mattress seams or inside cracks or crevices.
Bed bugs look different depending on their life stage:
- Adult bed bugs are small, oval, flat, reddish brown and wingless. They are in regards to the size of an apple seed (3/16 to 1/4 inch long). Bed bugs swell and grow longer after feeding.
- Young bed bugs are called nymphs. They are small, translucent, or whitish-yellow in color. They may be almost invisible in the event that they haven't fed recently (blood gives them a reddish-brown color).
- Bed bug eggs are pearly white and really small, in regards to the size of a pinhead.
What does a bed bug bite seem like?
A bed bug bite may appear red and barely swollen. Bite marks may be random, appear in a straight line or in a zigzag pattern. Bite marks often appear in clusters of three to 5 bites. Bed bug bites may be mistaken for mosquito, flea, or spider bites, or for scabies or hives.
Bed bug bite symptoms
Most people don't immediately realize they've been bitten by bed bugs since the bugs inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant (a substance that forestalls blood from clotting), which causes the bite to clot. It becomes difficult to detect. In some cases, it will possibly take as much as 14 days for a bite mark to seem after the initial bite.
Some people never show bite marks or may only develop a small bite mark. Others may experience bites which are itchy, irritated, red and swollen. Some people have an allergic response to bed bug bites, causing large, painful, swollen bite marks. On very rare occasions, an allergic response to bed bug bites may cause anaphylaxis.
Bed bug bites also can cause insomnia, anxiety, and skin infections attributable to excessive scratching.
Treatment for bed bug bites
Bed bug bites should not dangerous and frequently heal on their very own inside every week or two. However, excessive scratching can result in infection on the bite site. It is best to avoid scratching the bite to scale back the chance of infection.
gave American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends the next steps to administer uncomfortable bed bug bites.
- Clean the bite marks with soap and water.
- Apply an over-the-counter corticosteroid cream or calamine lotion to assist with itching and inflammation.
- To relieve symptoms, use an oral antihistamine if needed.
You should see your doctor if you will have multiple bites, blisters, an allergic response, or signs of a skin infection (redness, pus, discharge).
Prevent bed bug bites
The best approach to avoid bed bug bites is to avoid bed bugs in the primary place. Bed bugs generally tend to maneuver in with us and our possessions. Because bed bugs need human or animal blood to survive, they like to live near their host, near nests (or beds within the case of humans).
Expert hitchhikers, bed bugs can invade recent locations by hiding in luggage, clothing, or other items that folks carry with them. They can move from room to room (or apartment to apartment) through floors, door gaps, electrical outlets, or through furniture, books, or clothing.
Bed bugs can be transported into your private home with second-hand furniture or home goods. Always inspect this stuff rigorously before bringing them into your private home.
Traveling is one other approach to bring bed bugs into your private home. Be aware of the symptoms of a bed bug infestation once you travel so that you don't inadvertently bring the bugs home with you. gave National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recommends the following tips:
While traveling:
- Avoid placing items on carpets, beds or furniture. Try keeping your belongings in the tub whilst you inspect the room for signs of bed bugs.
- Pull back the bed sheets, inspect the mattress seams and box springs. Look for small dark spots of blood, black spots, or bed bug skins.
- Check behind headboards, inside dresser drawers, sofas and chairs.
at home:
- Look for bed bugs in suitcases and bags before bringing them inside your private home.
- Vacuum your suitcase or use a garment hand steamer to kill any bed bugs or eggs.
- Wash and dry all clothing – even unworn ones – on hot cycles.
Dealing with Bed Bug Infestations
If you watched a bed bug infestation, search for the next evidence:
- Bed bugs in mattresses, beds, furniture folds and anywhere else they will hide
- Bed bug skins, or exoskeletons, which were shed.
- Small, dark, rusty spots and dark spots
- A sweet, foul smell.
If you will have a bed bug infestation, contact a pest control skilled. Also often known as a bed bug exterminator, one of these specialist can inspect your private home for bed bugs and eliminate them.
Bed bug spray
If you select to treat your bed bug infestation yourself, there are over 300 products which are approved Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that buyers can use to regulate bed bugs. You can use EPA. Bed bug product search tool To find one of the best pesticide in your needs.