Identifying Bed Bug Bites

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Bed bug bites are the most obvious signs of the presence of bed bugs on your premises. Bed bugs are difficult to detect as they can hide in hard-to-reach places effortlessly. Despite a rise in the bed bug epidemic, most people are not aware of what bed bug bites look like and often confuse it with mosquito bites.

This blog will deep dive into bed bug bites identification to help you detect one of the earliest signs of bed bug infestation.

So, without any further delay, let’s explore.

Where do Bed bugs bite?

Bed bugs feed on human blood, and therefore, there is no specific place where they bite. They can launch an attack anywhere on your body where the skin is exposed, such as:

  • hands
  • shoulders
  • arms
  • neck
  • face
  • legs

How do bed bugs bite?

Bed bugs bite humans and pets using their two elongated beaks to pierce into the skin to extract blood. They inject saliva that contains an anesthetic using one beak. This numbs the area that helps the bed bugs avoid detection, while they use the other beak to extract blood.

How to Identify a Bed Bug Bite?

Many people do not feel the bite of bed bug but develop very negligible symptoms such as the dots, minor irritation. However, all bed bug bites produce discomfort of some level, itchiness, and inflammation. Some common signs and symptoms of bed bug bites include:

  • a burning painful sensation
  • a red itchy swollen bump
  • dark spot at the center of each bite
  • multiple bites grouped together
  • bumps or welts in a zigzag line or pattern or a line
  • bumps surrounded by blisters
  • raised, flat or inflamed patches on the affected areas of skin

That said, the after-effects of the bite may differ as per the individual characteristics of the bed bug, its bite, and the person bitten. Apart from the above-mentioned symptoms, some people also develop some severe reactions from bed bug bites that require medical attention include:

  • blisters
  • fever
  • swollen tongue
  • irregular heartbeat
  • difficulty in breathing
  • feeling nauseous or flu-like

Do They Carry Disease?

The answer is simple. No! There is no evidence that bed bugs transfer disease from one person to another. Blood is the only source of nutrition for a bed bug. The only thing bed bugs can spread is stress and a lot of headaches once you detect a single bed bug in and around your house, find bloodstains on your sheets, or spot bed bug bites on yourself. Apart from these, bed bugs are not known to transmit any disease like other pests.

Wrapping Up

Bed bug bites are annoying, creepy, and itchy. Identifying bed bug bites is the first step to detect an infestation before the situation gets out of control. Although the bites cause no harm, it’s important to take action by hiring pest control professionals to get rid of bed bugs fast and have a bite-free and sound sleep.