Bed Bug Bites and Concerns

Bed bugs usually bite people at night while
they are sleeping. They feed by piercing the
skin with an elongated beak through which they
withdraw blood. Engorgement takes about three
to 10 minutes, yet the person seldom knows they
are being bitten. Bed bugs normally do not reside
on people like head or body lice — immediately
after feeding they crawl off and reside elsewhere to
digest their meal. Symptoms after being bitten vary
with the individual. Many develop an itchy red welt
or localized swelling within a day or so of the bite.
Others have little or no reaction, and in some people
the reaction is delayed. Unlike flea bites that occur
mainly around the ankles, bed bugs feed on any skin
exposed while sleeping (face, neck, shoulders, back,
arms, legs, etc.). The welts and itching are often
wrongly attributed to other causes, such as mosquitoes.
For these reasons, infestations may go a long
time unnoticed, and can become quite large before
being detected. The likelihood of bed bugs increases
if the affected individual has been traveling, or had
acquired used beds or furnishings before symptoms
started to appear. Bed bugs also are suspect if you
wake up with itchy bites you did not have when you
went to sleep. Conversely, it is important to recog-
BITES &
Concerns
Bed Bug Fact Sheet
Your Guide To Bed Bugs nize that not all bites or bite-like reactions are due to
bed bugs. Confirmation requires finding and identifying
the bugs themselves, which often requires the
help of a professional.
A common concern with bed bugs is whether they
transmit diseases. Although bed bugs can harbor
pathogens in and on their bodies, transmission to
humans is considered unlikely. Their medical significance
is chiefly limited to the itching and inflammation
from their bites. Antihistamines and corticosteroids
may be prescribed to reduce allergic reactions,
and antiseptic or antibiotic ointments to prevent
infection. Though not known to carry diseases, bed
bugs can severely reduce quality of life by causing discomfort,
sleeplessness, anxiety, and embarrassment.