Sleep tight, if you will, but that won't stop bed bugs from biting, as the old adage goes. A cluster of bed bug bites can present in the form of an itchy skin rash or individually, and are often difficult to delineate from any other type of insect bite, according to MayoClinic.Com. Bed bugs are becoming problematic in the United States, says the clinic, which surmises this may be due to increased international travel.
About Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped, wingless parasites that feast on the blood of warm-blooded animals. The Harvard School of Public Health states that some types of bed bugs reside in the nests of birds and bat roosts, while others choose to make their nest with humans. Newly hatched bed bugs are about the size of a poppy seed, growing up to a quarter inch long. According to the Centers for Disease Control, two bed bug species, Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus, are generally responsible for human infestations.
The Bite of the Bug
Bed bugs are nocturnal, crawling out of their nooks and crannies--mattresses, box springs and headboards--to feed on humans as they sleep. If you wake up with an itch and bed bugs are last on your "suspect list," you may well be mistaken. Bed bugs give no deference to cleanliness and can lurk in the tidiest home and the nicest hotel room, according to MayoClinic.Com. When the bed bug bites, it leaves behind a trace amount of saliva. Bed bug bites may present as a line or cluster of tiny red bites, which could resemble a rash. Some people don't react to the bite of the bed bug, while others suffer an extreme allergic reaction characterized by itching and hives.
What To Do
The Harvard School of Public Health points out that bed bug bites may look similar to those of other insects, such as fleas and mosquitoes, so it is rarely possible to self-diagnose bed bugs just by eyeballing your own skin. See your treating physician so that other causes of the rash can be eliminated, and in the meantime, fight the urge to scratch. The School of Public Health cautions that scratching the bites can lead to a secondary infection.
Treatments
Symptoms of bed bug bites generally resolve without treatment within one or two weeks, says MayoClinic.Com. A topical hydrocortisone cream or a nonprescription oral antihistamine can assuage itching. If infection develops because you've scratched the bites, your treating physician may prescribe an antibiotic.
Preventing Bed Bugs
If you suspect bed bugs, the Harvard School of Public Health advises examining your sleeping quarters carefully, leaving no pillow left unturned. Look in bed linens, box springs and mattresses for sign of the bugs, as well as in curtains, under loose wall coverings, and in the corner of your desk or dresser. Bed bugs emit an unusual scent not unlike coriander. Bed bugs are hard to get out of your home without the help of a professional exterminator, as they can live for months without a human host, cautions MayoClinic.Com. Home treatment that doesn't involve the use of chemicals may include vacuuming all areas well and washing and drying launderable items on the hot cycle. Mattresses and other items of furniture that show signs of heavy infestation may need to be discarded.
