Bed bugs are a common problem. You see, the way they multiply is that they actually bite humans, and the little bites swell up into little welts and hives. The welts, or welts and blisters all over your body can happen at night, while you are sleeping in bed. The bed bugs are parasitic by nature – they only attack you when you are asleep. That is why nobody knows about how bad it is until you wake up with a new series of itchy red bumps on your skin. Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals, usually at night. They range in color from nearly white to brown, but before feeding, they appear a deep red. You may find them hiding in bedding material or behind baseboards, electrical outlets, or wood floors. Although bed bug bites can be irritating, they do not pose a serious health risk. A bed bug infestation can be devastating to both you and your life. If you’ve noticed bites appearing on your body at night, you may have an allergic reaction to bed bugs. The most common allergies are dermatological allergies and nasal symptoms, which include nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy nose, and watery eyes. Other symptoms may include ear problems, asthma flare-ups, unexplained rashes or headaches.

Allergic Reaction To Bed Bug Bites

Common Allergic Reaction To Bed Bug Bites

Bed bug bites are similar to mosquito bites. They may be hard to detect, especially if you are bitten in your sleep. If you have bed bugs, your bites will be located on areas of skin exposed while sleeping such as the face, neck, arms and hands. It is common to find several bites lined up in a row or grouped together in small areas.

Bites typically cause itching and irritation at the bite site. This may progress into mild swelling and redness of the skin immediately surrounding the bite. In rare cases, people can have an allergic reaction to bed bug bites which causes hives or more severe reactions that require medical attention especially if there is swelling at the bite site that affects breathing ability.

Symptoms of Allergic Reaction To Bed Bug Bites

A person may experience the following symptoms after being bitten by a bedbug:

• Red, itchy skin
• Hives
• Skin rash
• Swelling
• Blistering of the skin (severe cases)
• Skin ulceration (severe cases)

In rare cases, a person may experience anaphylaxis from bed bug bites. Anaphylaxis is also known as anaphylactic shock and causes difficulty breathing. In severe cases, a person can lose consciousness when experiencing anaphylaxis.

Types of Allergic Reaction To Bed Bug Bites

The most common type of allergic reaction to bed bug bites is an itchy rash. However, you may also experience allergic symptoms such as hives, welts, or blisters. As many as 50% of people will experience an allergic reaction to bed bugs; however, doctors have found that some people are more sensitive than others. Allergic reactions to bed bug bites can be mild or severe. People who have a history of allergies are more likely to react badly to bed bug bites. Some individuals may be allergic to the proteins in the insect’s saliva and not even notice a bite until it becomes infected or inflamed by scratching.

Causes of Allergic Reaction To Bed Bug Bites

Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease, but the most common reaction to bed bug bites is mild irritation. In some people, however, bed bug bites can cause severe allergic reactions that lead to secondary bacterial infections from scratching at the red bumps and welts.

The exact cause of a person’s allergic reaction to bed bug bites is unknown. Possible factors include genetics (inherited susceptibility), previous exposure and your immune system (the body’s natural defense against infection).

If you have an allergic reaction to mosquito bites or bee stings, you are likely to react strongly to bed bug bites as well. People with asthma also appear to be more sensitive than others; they usually have more severe reactions and need immediate medical treatment.

Treatment for Allergic Reaction To Bed Bug Bites

The first step in treating an allergic reaction to a bed bug bite is to treat the swelling, itchiness, and pain. You can do this through cold compresses or ice packs for about 20 minutes at a time. Soaking the bites in cool water also helps.

Taking over-the-counter medications like Benadryl can help reduce inflammation and relieve some symptoms of an allergic reaction to bed bug bites. Using calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream may also provide relief from itching.

Most minor reactions to bed bugs will go away on their own within one week without treatment. However, if you notice severe reactions like difficulty breathing or skin infections around the bite site, it’s important that you seek medical attention right away by calling 911 or visiting your local emergency room (ER).

In most cases, bed bug bites are just annoying and uncomfortable. If you have an allergy to them though, they can cause serious health problems and should be taken seriously by seeking prompt medical treatment.

If you have an allergic reaction to bed bug bites, see a doctor immediately.

If you have an allergic reaction to bed bug bites, see a doctor immediately. An allergic reaction can be treated with medication in order to reduce the severity of the symptoms. If left untreated, this reaction can become dangerous and cause long term health problems.