Knowing How Bed Bugs Spread
The larger the infestation, the more bed bugs will spread to other rooms in the house and to other lodgings.
Bed bugs can be found everywhere, even in the cleanest houses and hotels. They can move in very narrow and inaccessible places, such as a gap the thickness of a credit card.
Bed bugs spread:
- Through close contact with frequently used items such as clothing, handbags, wheelchairs, mattresses, sofas, etc.
- When transporting infested items, especial during house moves
- Through walls, ceilings and floors, by crawling into pipes, ducts, electric cables or other openings
- Through bed sheets, clothing or other fabrics brought to private or public laundry facilities
- Through used items bought at flea markets, second-hand stores, and used furniture stores
- Through the recuperation of furniture or objects left on the street
- During trips, in infested luggage, bags, clothing or sleeping bags
Are Bed Bugs And Scabies Contagious
While bed bugs are not contagious, these pests can easily migrate from person to person, and from place to place. Bed bugs can hitch rides on clothing, luggage, and furniture and then infest your home and move from one home or room to another. Scabies, on the other hand, require prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person in order to be contagious. However, as mentioned previously, crusted or Norwegian scabies are highly contagious.
Bed Bug Bites On Black Skin Pictures
When youre out and about, youll often see people who have a strange reaction to bed bugs. For some reason, they seem to get a rash or a red spot.
If you look closely at these peoples skin, youll often notice that the area has a blackish discoloration. You might think that these people have a strange allergy to bed bugs, but youd be wrong.
In fact, it turns out that these people are getting bed bug bites on their skin!
Related: Can Bed Bugs Live on Wood Furniture?
The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to use a professional service. But what if youre stuck in a situation where you cant afford to hire a professional?
Or, what if youre a homeowner who just wants to keep the bugs away from your home?
Try This Product!
Don’t Miss: What Is Stage 2 Melanoma Skin Cancer
Bed Bug Bites Vs Spider Bites
Typical of tiny biting pests, we often dont see them until theyve already bitten and symptoms appear. To know which course of treatment is required to effectively get rid of a potential bed bug or flea infestation, you need to properly identify which bug youve encountered. A solid way to decipher which type of bite youre experiencing is learning how to tell the difference between bed bug bites and spider bites. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
How to Identify a Spider Bite
-
Feature two small holes due to spider fangs
-
Typically only one or two bites
-
Pretty rare as most spiders only bite when threatened
-
Bites from more dangerous spiders also include symptoms such as nausea, muscle cramping, and difficulty breathing
When trying to figure out whether youve been bit by a spider or a bed bug, take a look around to see if you can find any telltale signs of a possible infestation. For help getting rid of bed bugs and spiders, contact your local Orkin branch.
Bedbug Bites Vs Hives
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. Like bedbug bites, theyre often itchy.
Bedbug bites may initially look like hives with small central bumps or bites. However, hives from bedbug bites dont stay in the same place for more than 24 hours. They tend to migrate to other locations or go away.
If you develop red bumps on your skin that get larger, change shape, or spread from one part of your body to another in a short period of time, theyre more likely to be hives.
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, swelling of the mouth and throat, wheezing, rapid heart rate, or confusion, 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.
Also Check: Does Smoking Cause Skin Cancer
Knowing Where To Look
To determine whether bed bugs bite you or not, you need to know where to look. If these pests arent found around their usual hideouts, its possible a different problem could be responsible for your bites.
So, where do bed bugs hide? A summarized answer will be in several places.
For a more thorough search, youll need to look at the seams of couches and chairs. Of course, a flashlight is required to illuminate the inspected areas adequately.
Youll need to also search between cushions and curtail folds. Drawer joints are additional areas to inspect.
In electrical appliances and receptacles, bed bugs will also hide beneath wall hangings and loose wallpaper. Also, consider search screw heads and junctions between walls and ceilings.
Your mattress is a hotspot for their activity. As such, you might want to have it inspected.
Youll likely find reddish or rusty stains on your bedsheets and mattresses. These mainly arise when bed bugs are crushed whenever you turn while sleeping.
If bed bugs cause the bite marks you see, they should appear in all or some of these areas.
Bedbug Bites Vs Fleas
Bedbug bites and fleabites are quite similar in appearance, although flea bites are typically a bit smaller. 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 of your body, or warm, moist areas around joints. For example, they may bite:
- the inside of your elbows or knees
Bedbugs are more likely to bite upper parts of your body, such as:
Bedbug bites also occur at night and look like hives. But later in the day they get smaller and look more like a pimple.
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 carpets or upholstered furniture.
You can also visit a dermatologist who can examine the bites and help determine what the cause may be.
If you find bedbugs or fleas, its important to treat your home or pet to get rid of them.
Read Also: How Long Can You Live With Renal Cell Carcinoma
Allergic Reactions And Infections From Bedbug Bites
Although rare, there have been isolated case reports of systemic allergic reactions to bedbug bites. Reactions typically included hives, asthma, and in rare occasions, anaphylaxis.
In addition, constant scratching of lesions caused by bedbug bites may lead to secondary infections, such as impetigo, folliculitis, or cellulitis. To reduce the risk of infection, wash the bites with soap and water, and try not to scratch them.
If you suspect that youve developed an infection or allergic reaction to a bedbug bite, contact your doctor. Get emergency medical care if you develop any of the following after being bitten:
- swelling of the throat or mouth
Getting Bitten At Night But No Sign Of Bed Bugs
One of the things parasitic pests like bed bugs are known for is the discomfort they cause at night. These are nocturnal creatures that feed on blood and only do so when their host is still .
When bitten by these bugs, you will likely wake up to severe itches on your skin.
Here is a guide on small bugs in bed.
Recommended Reading: What Does Skin Cancer Look Like On Neck
Bedbugs Are Not Known To Carry Disease
Bedbug bites can itch and knowing you have bedbugs in your home can be distressing, but being bitten wont negatively impact your health. Thus far, bedbugs have not been shown to transmit any diseases to humans, says Jerry Lazarus, president of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination.
Thats a key difference between bedbugs and mosquitoes, which Braun says are sometimes called the deadliest animal on the planet. Bedbugs do bite and feed on blood like mosquitoes do, he says. However, they do not transmit any disease. The risk of getting ill from the bite isnt there.
The bigger concern with bedbugs is the effect they can have on ones mental health, since having bedbugs can be both stressful and embarrassing.
Flea Versus Bed Bug Bites
Both pests bites appear as small red dots on your skin, making it hard for you to know the difference. Like bed bugs, fleas survive on blood. It is also worth noting that fleas and bed bugs feed away from prying eyes at night.
If you find bites on your face, neck, and arms, you are more likely to be dealing with a bed bug infestation. Bed bug bites are often concentrated on the upper half of the body, while flea bites are on the lower half. Fleas also prefer warm moist areas of your skin, including the bends of the elbows and knees.
Also Check: What Helps Dry Skin On Face
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide
Another way to determine if your bites come from bed bugs is to look for the insects themselves. They naturally like to hide in your mattress, especially in the corners, near the head end, and in the cord that goes around it. They also like to camp out behind the headboard, behind any pictures on the wall, and in electrical sockets.
Adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and are very flat from top to bottomalmost as thin as a piece of paperwith a brownish color, says Rajotte. Baby bed bugs are also brownish in color, but pinhead-sized. Another key identifier? Look for black spots on your sheets, mattress, and mattress cover, which could be bed bug feces.
Why Do People React Differently To Bites
There are many different chemicals in bed bug saliva, and different people react to these various chemicals in different ways.
Depending on the type of chemical that your immune system is determined to fight and the level of response, bed bug bites may appear as small bumps, large welts, or nothing at all.
- Some peoples immune systems are sensitive to certain components in bed bug saliva that act as an anesthetic .
- Others might react to proteins that act as an anti-coagulant .
- Sometimes our bodies react to the physical stimulus as well, producing a generalized histamine reaction to being poked by the stylet of the bed bug.
Histamines, which are part of your immune system, are chemicals that are normally stored in mast cells and released in response to physical damage, infections, or allergic reactions. A common result of a histamine reaction is inflammation, redness, swelling, and itchiness.
For all of the different types of reactions, bed bug bites are not considered dangerous except in rare cases of severe allergic reactions. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to look out for include severe itchiness, painful swelling, fever, flu-like symptoms, blisters, and hives.
Don’t Miss: What Does The Early Stages Of Melanoma Look Like
Mosquitoes Versus Bed Bug Bites
Mosquitoes and bed bug bites appear similar to an inexperienced eye, but they have some differences. Pinpointing their differences enables you to take the necessary treatment measures. Before we look at the difference between both bites, you should know that mosquito bites only come from females.
Bed bug bites often appear in a cluster and have a distinctive pattern. On the other hand, Mosquito bites are secluded and appear in a random outline. You will also notice a puncture wound in the middle of the red spots if you are dealing with a mosquito.
Can Scabies Live In A Bed Mattress
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, scabies infestations are passed through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected individual or through prolonged exposure to clothing or bedding an infected person has used. So, while scabies mites could, in theory, live in a mattress, it’s highly unlikely that you’d develop an infection just from the mattress alone. Instead, scabies mites prefer to live on skin where they have access to the nutrients they need to survive and can burrow into your skin to lay their eggs. These mites will not survive more than two or three days away from human skin.
If you’re worried about catching scabies in bed, the best thing you can do is thoroughly wash and dry your bed linens. This should kill the mites.
Also Check: Best Mineral Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin
Frequently Asked Questions About Bed Bugs Vs Scabies
If you suspect either bed bugs or scabies, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and concerned about the safety of your home and your family’s well-being. And the more you research both bed bugs and scabies, the more questions you’ll likely have.
Here are the answers to a few of the most common questions people ask so you can better prepare and educate yourself before seeking help for your infestation.
How Long Do Bed Bug Bites Last
The length of time a bed bug persists on skin will depend on the individual.
Since a bite can take up to TWO weeks to show on up on skin, the consensus is they take around:
10 to 14 days to disappear.
Although, those with more sensitive skin.
Will see bites in less than an hour after being bitten, and it could take up to 30 days for the bites to full disappear.
In more severe cases, victims develop anaphylaxis and require immediate medical attention.
Others , may not notice or even experience bites at all.
Bites will last longer if any of the following occurs:
- Aggressive scratching: This can cause scarring and also cause the wounds to fester and burst.
- When left untreated: Bites do eventually go away on their own, but certain treatments will help accelerate the healing process. In fact, Pinterest has a board with 27 natural home remedies for bed bugs.
- Infection: If the bites turn into open wounds which then become infected, this will cause your bites to last a lot longer.
Bed bug bites typically last much longer than other insect bites like mosquitos.
Youll need to be patient as your bites heal, and try to fight the urge to scratch and further irritate your wounds.
The fact that these bites persevere so long, is one of the main reasons that bed bugs can lead to long term psychological issues within victims.
Don’t Miss: Skin Cancer On Top Of Head
Symptoms Of A Bedbug Bite
Bedbugs excrete a tiny amount of anesthetic before feeding on people, so you wont feel it when they bite you. It can sometimes take a few days for symptoms of bedbug bites to develop.
Some people never develop noticeable symptoms from bedbug bites. According to Pest Control Technology, approximately 30 to 60 percent of people never develop a reaction to a bedbug bite. When symptoms do develop, the bites tend to be:
- red and swollen, with a dark spot at the center of each bite
- arranged in lines or clusters, with multiple bites grouped together
- you may also find blood stains on the sheets from scratching
Scratching bug bites can cause them to bleed or become infected.
Learn more about the symptoms of an infected bug bite.
How To Identify Bed Bug Bites
Signs and symptoms of bed bugs can be difficult to detect. Though these insects can be seen with the naked eye, they hide in dark, hard to reach places during the day.
Visible bites on your skin will take on the following characteristics:
- Slightly discolored, red dots (about the size of ¼ to ¾ inches in diameter.
- You see multiple bites in a row or in a zigzag pattern.
- You could see hives or a red circle on the skin that surrounds the bites.
If youre having an adverse health issue like an allergic reaction from bed bug bites. Your bites may blow up to the size of 2 inches or more and turn into painful blisters.
Another problem is. After you have been bitten:
The bites DONT always show up right away.
In fact, bites may not show up for days after you have been bitten.
If you suspect bed bugs but dont have any bites to show for it.
You can look for the tell-tale signs that an infestation exists in your home.
Recommended Reading: Scottsdale Skin And Holistic Health
Check If It’s Bedbugs
Jeff March / Alamy Stock Photo https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-common-adult-bedbug-bed-bug-cimex-lectularius-on-end-of-cotton-swab-29728437.html?pv=1& stamp=2& imageid=ADBD1DCD-A904-46BA-9689-0574F458EB3D& p=39747& n=0& orientation=0& pn=1& searchtype=0& IsFromSearch=1& srch=foo%3dbar%26st%3d0%26pn%3d1%26ps%3d100%26sortby%3d2%26resultview%3dsortbyPopular%26npgs%3d0%26qt%3dBMA6WW%26qt_raw%3dBMA6WW%26lic%3d3%26mr%3d0%26pr%3d0%26ot%3d0%26creative%3d%26ag%3d0%26hc%3d0%26pc%3d%26blackwhite%3d%26cutout%3d%26tbar%3d1%26et%3d0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3d0%26loc%3d0%26imgt%3d0%26dtfr%3d%26dtto%3d%26size%3d0xFF%26archive%3d1%26groupid%3d%26pseudoid%3d32846%26a%3d%26cdid%3d%26cdsrt%3d%26name%3d%26qn%3d%26apalib%3d%26apalic%3d%26lightbox%3d%26gname%3d%26gtype%3d%26xstx%3d0%26simid%3d%26saveQry%3d%26editorial%3d1%26nu%3d%26t%3d%26edoptin%3d%26customgeoip%3d%26cap%3d1%26cbstore%3d1%26vd%3d0%26lb%3d%26fi%3d2%26edrf%3d1%26ispremium%3d1%26flip%3d0%26pl%3d
Bedbugs can hide in many places, including on bed frames, mattresses, clothing, furniture, behind pictures and under loose wallpaper.
Signs of bedbugs include:
- bites often on skin exposed while sleeping, like the face, neck and arms
- spots of blood on your bedding from the bites or from squashing a bedbug
- small brown spots on bedding or furniture
On white skin, bedbug bites usually look red. On black or brown skin, they may look purple and may be harder to see.
A severe allergic reaction is also possible but rare.
Can Bed Bug Bites Damage Your Skin
Most bug bites and insect stings cause temporary lumps, bumps, and discoloration. Markings left by wasps, ants, and mosquitoes can be unsightly, but will usually fade in a matter of days. Unfortunately, bed bug bites are more medically serious. Bites from bed bugs can cause lasting skin damage in the form of permanent scarring or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation , a condition which is particularly pronounced in bite victims with darker skin tones. In this article, our apartment bed bug lawyers will explain how bed bugs cause PIH and scarring.
You May Like: How To Fight Skin Cancer