Bed Bugs
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Bed Bugs Bites
Symptoms of Bed Bug Bites
Bed bugs bite and suck blood from humans. Bed bugs are most active at night and bite any exposed areas of skin while an individual is sleeping. The face, neck, hands, and arms are common sites for bed bug bites. The bite itself is painless and is not noticed. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign; redness, swelling, and itching commonly occur. If scratched, the bite areas can become infected. A peculiarity of bed bug bites is the tendency to find several bites lined up in a row. Infectious disease specialists refer to this as the "breakfast, lunch, and dinner" sign signifying the sequential feeding that occurs from site to site.
What are bed bugs? What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are small, oval, nonflying insects that belong to the insect family Cimicidae, which includes three species that bite people. Adult bed bugs reach 5-7 mm in length, while nymphs (juveniles) are as small as 1.5 mm. Bed bugs have flat bodies and may sometimes be mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches. Bed bugs feed by sucking blood from humans or animals. Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color, appearing more reddish after feeding on a blood meal. Nymphs are clear in color and appear bright red after feeding. The wings of bed bugs are vestigial, so they cannot fly.
Where are bed bugs found?
Bed bugs were common in the U.S. before World War II and became rare after
widespread use of the pesticide DDT began in the 1940s and 1950s. They remained
prevalent in other areas of the world and, in recent years, have been
increasingly observed again in the U.S. Increases in immigration and travel from
the developing world as well as restrictions on the use of stronger pesticides
may be factors that have led to the relatively recent increase in bed bug
infestations. While bed bugs are often reported to be found when sanitation
conditions are poor or when birds or mammals (particularly bats) are nesting on or near a home, bed
bugs can also live and thrive in clean environments. Crowded living quarters
also facilitate the spread of bed bugs.
Bed bugs can live in any area of the home and can reside in tiny cracks in
furniture as well as on textiles and upholstered furniture. They tend to be most
common in areas where people sleep and generally concentrate in beds, including
mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. Other sites where bed bugs often reside
include curtains, the corners inside dressers and other furniture, cracks in
wallpaper (particularly near the bed), and inside the spaces of wicker
furniture.
Since bed bugs can live for months without feeding, they can also be found in
vacant homes.
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| What does a bed bug look like? |
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| Picture of an adult bed bug |
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