Signs of Bed Bugs
You’ve woken up with a few bites on your arms and legs. You don’t remember getting bit by anything the day before. How do you know if you have a bed bug problem in your home, and how do you take care of a problem like this? Read on to find out more about the various signs of bed bugs.
Small Bumps on Your Skin
We’ve all had mosquito bites and spider bites that are very painful and large in size. Bed bug bites tend to be very small bumps that are bright red in color. The most common place for these bites is on any bit of exposed skin.
This includes your ankles, legs, arms, neck and face. A couple of small bumps aren’t much to be concerned with. If you’re finding multiple bumps on a nightly basis, this is cause for concern.
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Expect an Itch
It’s unlikely that you’ll wake up from a bed bug bite when it happens. When you wake up you’ll be met with some intense itchiness as the bite becomes more red and inflamed. It can take a few hours for these bites to really flare up. Some people end up with a rash from bed bug bites.
A topical antihistamine cream or anti-itch cream can be applied for relief. Make sure that you rule out any other allergic reactions to a change in laundry detergent, body wash or lotion.
Blood Spots
When a bed bug feeds off of a host, they will usually leave behind blood spots on your sheets. These spots aren’t necessarily right where you were laying. You may find them in the cracks and crevices where you mattress or box spring are located.
Fecal matter and bits of the bugs may also be left behind.
Multiple Bites Appear in a Line
Most bugs bite, but they bite in different ways. Bugs like spiders will typically only bite you once, maybe twice. Bed bugs will feed off you, so you may see a series of bites in a line along your body.
You should also look at the bites very closely. Other bug bites will have a white center to them. Bed bugs leave behind only a red mark.
Foul Odor
Bed bugs are actually very smelly creatures. This is one of the biggest ways to discern between bed bugs and other bugs like spiders, fleas or mosquitoes. As the bed bugs feed off of you, they will leave behind waste that is very pungent.
If you have recently changed your sheets but you find that a bad smell keeps coming back again and again, it might be time to look into a bed bug infestation.
If you suspect that there is a bed bug problem in your home, there are some steps that you can take to rectify the situation. You should wash all of your bedding in hot water on a daily basis for the time being.
Vacuum your mattress and underneath your bed. You should also pay attention to the base boards around your bedroom. If you’re still having a problem with bed bugs, a professional can help control the problem.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bedbugs/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370005
