Are You Sick?

Symptoms of Bed Bug Bites

• Usually cause itchy, red bumps in a group or line
• Often 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 is sometimes 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 saliva 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.

Preventing Bed Bugs

• More than half of bed bug infestations in 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 you see them, 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.

Frequently Asked 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 (¼ inch; 4-7 mm).
• Are bed bugs afraid of the light? They do prefer darkness. But keeping the light on will not stop bed bugs from biting you.