You know the phrase “alone in a crowd”? That’s how I felt when I discovered my home had bed bugs. A few months ago, we went on vacation and left our 11-year-old cat at home because we thought she would be fine alone in the house for 7 days. We were wrong — really wrong — but it wasn’t until we got home that we realized something was wrong. When we did, we made a startling discovery: It was bed bugs! Bed bug bites can take place at any time of day, but do occur more frequently during a person’s sleeping hours. They are often mistaken for mosquito or flea bites. While bed bugs normally feed at night, bite signs can also be seen during daytime hours when a victim is home and rests on an infested couch and then awakes with bites on the face, neck, arms and hands. Bed bugs also might be present in empty apartments (when tenants have moved out).Bed Bug Bite Single What are bed bugs? More importantly what do they look like? Do you have bed bugs? Bed bugs are described as small brown flat looking insects that bite. If you think you got bit by a flea, its really likely that your bit by a Bed Bug.

Bed Bug Bite Single

Image: bedbug-bite.jpg

Bed bug bites are the most common sign of bed bugs. The majority of people who develop a bite reaction to bed bugs do not know that they have been bitten by a bed bug, mainly because many do not notice them immediately.

Bed bug bites appear as small red bumps on skin that can be itchy and painful from an allergic reaction. They may also occur in lines or clusters, making them easy to identify. If you believe you have been bitten by a bed bug, look for:

• A single row of 3–4 tiny red dots (this is the most common pattern);
• A cluster of smaller red bumps; and/or
• Large welts or hives that itch intensely and look like mosquito bites

A single bed bug bite is not likely to transmit a disease, but it is possible. (I cover this in more detail below.)

A single bed bug bite is not likely to transmit a disease, but it is possible. (I cover this in more detail below.)

Bed bugs are not known to transmit any diseases from person-to-person. However, there have been cases of “excessive scratching” causing secondary infections that required medical attention according to my research. Bed bugs can carry pathogens on their bodies and cause allergic reactions among people with sensitive skin. Bed bug bites may also cause redness, swelling and itching at the site of the bite that can last up to 10 days after being bitten by a bed bug.

You can’t stop bed bug bites with a mattress cover or spray.

The truth is that a mattress cover or spray cannot stop bed bug bites. These products can kill the bugs, but they do not stop them from biting you in your sleep. Bed bugs are tiny and their bites are very small and hard to see, so unless you have recently cleaned your home and banished all signs of bed bugs (including the dead ones), there’s nothing that can be done about getting bitten.

What works best at keeping bed bugs out of any room is closing off cracks under doors, sealing holes in floors and walls with caulk or tape (don’t forget behind baseboards!), vacuuming regularly and washing sheets often—you get the idea! If a visitor brings them into your house on their clothing or shoes then it’s best if they take off their clothes quickly outside before bringing anything else inside with them (this includes purses).

The only way to prevent getting bit? Don’t let them live anywhere near you…

Bed bugs are small enough to fit through the weave of a fitted sheet.

• Bed bugs are small enough to fit through the weave of a fitted sheet.
• Bed bugs are flat and good at hiding, making them difficult to detect even by those who know what to look for.
• Bed bug bites can be as small as 1/4 inch long and are often mistaken for mosquito or spider bites.

You’re more likely to get bitten where you can’t see your body, like your back and shoulders.

Bed bugs are nocturnal and tend to bite at night. They prefer to feed on people while they sleep, so if you wake up with a rash or welt on your face, neck, arms and hands, bed bug bites could be the cause.

Bed bugs feed on blood and prefer warmer parts of the body. However, they can also live for several weeks without feeding so it’s not uncommon for them to bite any part of your body that’s exposed during the day (e.g., ankles). To avoid getting bitten when it’s daylight out, stay covered up as much as possible—especially in places like parks or public transit where there may be other sources of insect bites!

How do you know that you were bitten by a bed bug?

• Bed bug bites can be easy to identify, even if you have never seen one before. They are small and round, about the size of a mosquito bite, and often appear in groups of three or more. The appearance of these bites is similar to other insect bites such as those from fleas or ticks.
• Bed bug bites usually do not cause itching but may cause swelling at the site of the bite. With multiple bed bug bites it is possible that you may experience some redness and swelling in addition to itchiness near your bite sites.
• Once you have been bitten by a bed bug it takes approximately ten days for your skin to heal completely after being bit by one or multiple bugs within an area (or infestation). This healing time depends on how long it takes for each individual person’s immune system to clear up any infection and/or inflammation caused by this type of parasite.