How Serious are Bed Bug Bites?

You could be having a nice morning when you realize that you have several bites throughout your body. You then realize that bed bugs are the cause of these bites by locating one on your bed. Several questions you might ask yourself are:

• Are these really bed bugs or a different pest?
• Am I allergic to bed bugs?
• How do I find out if I am allergic? 
• How do I treat bed bugs as soon as possible?

These questions are understandable and we are here to help you answer them!

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that are the size of an apple seed ranging between one to seven millimeters long. They are usually flat with their body shape oval-like, and they are a dark-red to brown in color. Bed bugs do not have wings, so they rely on animals or other humans to carry them from one location to another. 

Where do Bed Bugs Hide?

Bed bugs hide during the day time, but they are usually within close proximity to their human host. Due to their flat bodies, bed bugs can fit into tiny crevices in your room. Bed bugs are most commonly found right or around the bed. Other locations where bed bugs can hide include:

• Couches
• Clothing
• Luggage
• Bed frames
• Headboards
• Upholstered furniture
• Nearby rooms
• Storage areas

In addition to hiding in these locations, bed bugs also tend to leave brown and red stains in these spots.

When do Bed Bugs Bite

Bed bugs are mainly active at night and bite people when they are asleep. It is important to note that bed bugs do not feed on people every night. Once they have had one meal, they could go multiple days without eating, which may lead to a person to realize that they have bed bugs in their home after a few weeks, when there are more bites.

What do Bed Bug Bites Look Like

A lot of the time, bed bug bites are painless at first, but they turn into raised red itchy bumps (welts). Another well known pest that can be mistaken for bed bugs are fleas. Both cause discomfort in your home. Bed bugs tend to bite any area of the skin that is exposed while the person is sleeping, unlike fleas that mainly bite around the ankles. Many people do not realize that they have bed bugs because they attribute the itching and welts to be related to mosquitoes. To verify that you have bed bugs, you must identify the bugs themselves around your home.

In general, you will notice that the bites usually:

• Are red, with a red spot in the middle of the bite
• Are arranged either in a line or in a cluster
• Are itchy

When are Bed Bug Bites Serious?

Luckily, bed bugs do not usually pose a serious threat. Most bites do not require medical treatment. Usually, if one has minor symptoms, an anti-itch cream or an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream will be enough. However, it is possible to experience an allergic reaction to bed bug bites in addition to having a skin infection from continuously scratching the bites. 

Here are some ways you can identify if you have an allergic reaction:

• Severe itching
• Blisters
• Hives

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to go to a doctor, where they may prescribe an antibiotic to treat the bites.

Do You Believe You Have Bed Bugs?

Located in Cleveland Ohio, Bed Bug BBQ specializes in identifying and exterminating bed bugs with our non-chemical heat treatment that gets rid of bed bugs, guaranteed! Visit our website or call (216) 400-5379 to learn more and to receive a free inspection and estimate!