Bed Bug Bites: Symptoms and Identification
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that range in size from 5-7 mm and can infest not only beds but also carpeting, furniture, clothes, bags, and even small cracks in walls and wood flooring. Bed bugs are nocturnal feeders that get their nutrients from human blood, leaving small bites in their wake.
How do you identify bed bug bites? How are they different from other insect bites?
It may be easy to confuse bed bug bites with other insect bites, like flea bites or berry bug bites (also known as chiggers). However, you can differentiate between these different types of bites based on the location of the bites, the appearance of the bites, and the pattern of the bites.
Bed bug bites vs. flea bites
1. Bed bug bites are usually around 5-12 mm in size, larger than flea bites, which range from 1-4 mm in diameter.
2. Bed bug bites appear in clusters, zigzag patterns, or line formations, while flea bites are usually in a random spread.
3. Bed bug bites can appear anywhere on the body where skin is exposed (especially skin that is exposed when sleeping), meaning they can usually be found anywhere on the body. Flea bites, on the other hand, are usually only found on the lower half of the body, especially around the ankles.
Bed bug bites vs berry bug bites (chigger bites)
1. Bed bug bites are much larger than chigger bites, which are usually no larger than a grain of sand.
2. Chigger bites are also clustered, but they don’t feature a zigzag pattern and usually occur in larger clusters than bed bug bites.
3. As mentioned above, bed bug bites can appear in a range of places on the body. However, chigger bites are usually limited to the legs, particularly lower legs and ankles.
What are the symptoms of bed bug bites?
Bed bug bites can take up to two weeks to develop and start causing symptoms, and reactions often vary from person-to-person. However, typical symptoms of bed bug bites are:
1. Small raised welt-like bites, ranging in size from 5-12 mm in diameter (usually featuring a clear center), found in linear or zigzag-like clusters on places of the body that are exposed during sleep
2. A burning sensation along bitten skin
3. Itchiness (which may be accompanied by blisters or hives)
4. Small stains on sheets ranging from red to brown from dried blood or bed bug droppings
It’s important to keep in mind that some people don’t even develop any physical evidence of bed bug bites, meaning that just because you don’t experience physical symptoms, the possibility of bed bugs hiding in your living-space is not ruled out altogether. Additionally, you won’t be able to actually feel the bed bugs as they bite, due to their natural production of numbing agents that keep you from feeling any sensations during their feeding process.
Are bed bug bites dangerous?
Typically, bed bug bites are not dangerous and usually don’t require any medical treatment, healing in a week or so in most cases. Antihistamines or cortisone skin treatments usually ease any discomfort; however, if symptoms worsen and individuals experience more extreme side effects as a result of an allergic reaction to bed bug bites (fever, labored breathing, pain, swelling of the mouth or throat), the safest course of action would be to visit your doctor or another healthcare provider to receive treatment as soon as possible.
How to proceed if you have bed bugs
Bed bug infestations can be troublesome, but as a tenant you are entitled to certain assistance when dealing with them. Unless they were introduced by a tenant themselves, California law requires landlords to cover bed bug extermination procedures. Please do not hesitate to reach out through this link here if you need any support or resources, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.