Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

Feeling like talk of bed bugs is getting too close to home? You're not alone.

These tiny bugs are not just an annoyance; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all consider bed bugs public health pests that can cause public health issues. In recent years, the number of reported infestations has increased significantly, making awareness and education around identification and prevention more critical than ever.

Bed bugs can quickly spread in densely populated areas and do not discriminate based on socioeconomic status or the cleanliness of one's home. These pests are adept at hiding and can be transported from one location to another through luggage, used furniture or even on clothing. Knowing what bed bugs look like, where they hide, how to identify bed bug bites and the signs of an infestation is essential whether you are at home or traveling.

Key Takeaways: Bed Bugs

• Bed bugs are small, elusive pests that hide in mattresses, furniture and cracks, making them hard to detect.
• Common signs of bed bugs include itchy bites, blood spots on sheets and a musty odor.
• Preventing bed bugs involves regular inspection, reducing clutter and careful travel habits to avoid bringing them home.
• Professional extermination is often necessary to fully eliminate an infestation.

What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

Knowing what to look for is the first step in identifying bed bugs, controlling them and treating any bites.

Adult bed bugs

Adult bed bugs look like reddish brown, wingless bugs. They are roughly the size of an apple seed. Adult bed bug bodies are more flat and oval-shaped if not recently fed and more elongated if they have fed recently.

Young bed bugs

Young bed bugs, also known as nymphs, look translucent or whitish-yellow in color and can be nearly invisible to the naked eye because of coloring and size, if the bed bugs have not fed recently.

Bed bug eggs

Bed bug eggs are the size of a pinhead; pearl-white in color; and may have an eye spot if more than five days old.

Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

Bed bugs are found worldwide, and infestations can occur in areas where people sleep, including dorm rooms, cruise ships, trains and five-star hotels or resorts. The presence of bed bugs isn't related to cleanliness of living conditions where they are found. Bed bugs can hide in mattresses, cracks or clutter; if the width of a credit card could fit, a bed bug could fit as well.

What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?

To the untrained eye, bed bug bites can be confused with other mosquito or flea bites.

"Bed bug bites can be extremely difficult to distinguish from other insect bites; however several clues can suggest the presence of bed bugs," said Mahrosh Ahmed, MD, a member of the Franciscan Physician Network specializing in Family Medicine in Lafayette, Ind. “Small, itchy red bumps on the face, neck, arms, hands or other exposed body parts is a very noticeable sign of having a bed bug problem.

"Particularly if they form a row or a line on the skin, that should raise suspicion for the possibility of bed bug bites," said Dr. Ahmed .

Even though itchy red bumps are a common sign of bed bugs, not all people have this kind of reaction to bed bug bites. Bite marks from bed bugs can take up to 14 days to appear.

The National Pesticide Information Center suggests that if you find possible bed bug bite marks on your skin, don't sleep in another part of the house because bed bugs could follow you and spread.

Most bed bug bites are not considered to spread disease, however an allergic reaction to bed bug bites warrants medical attention.

What Are The Signs Of Bed Bugs?

Signs of bed bugs can be hard to detect at first. According to the EPA, looking for physical signs of bed bugs is an accurate way to identify a possible infestation of bed bugs.

Stains on the bedding

Reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses appear due to the bed bugs being crushed. Bed bugs may get squashed at night, and this can lead to blood spots on the bed, clothes or skin.

Bed bugs sometimes will leave fecal stain, especially if they are in large numbers. These spots will look dark and rusty-colored. They can also leave fecal stains on walls and under wallpaper which will result in dark spots on the wall.

Bed Bug Shells

According to the EPA, bed bug eggs and eggshells are tiny (about 1mm) and pale-yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger. These can be found in your mattress, headboard, between couch cushions and underneath furniture.

The acronym SLEEP can help you check for bed bugs:

• Survey the room for signs of an infestation. Be on the lookout for tiny, ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards.
• Look in bed bug hiding spots: the mattress, box spring and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper.
• Elevate luggage away from the bed and wall when traveling.
• Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and once you return home from a trip.
• Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.

How Do I Treat Bed Bug Bites?

If you discover that you have bed bugs, it is likely that you or someone in your home has bed bug bites, which may cause you to need to see a doctor.

"For any patient that is presenting with symptoms of bed bug bites for several days, they should seek medical care for a full examination by a trained, licensed medical professional," Dr. Ahmed said. This can include a primary care doctor, an urgent care facility or a dermatologist.

Dr. Ahmed stated that there is no clinical test for the definitive diagnosis of bed bug bites, it is all based on history, appearance of the bites on examination, and the inspection of sleep quarters.

"If the suspicion is high and the physical characteristics are present along with the history, treating the bed bugs, includes caring for the bite and itch," she said.

Bed bug bites typically heal naturally, but Dr. Ahmed said the office prescribes or recommends a topical skin cream containing hydrocortisone or an oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl, or prescription strength medication.

"This helps relieve the irritation and inflammation from the itch," she said.

Dr. Ahmed recommends keeping the skin clean and dry and try not to scratch the bites.

"If a secondary skin infection develops from scratching, an antibiotic may need to be prescribed," she said.

How Do I Prevent Bed Bug Bites?

The only way to prevent bed bug bites is to get rid of bed bugs.

How Can You Get Rid Of Bed Bugs?

If you have discovered that you have bed bugs, you must control the infestation and get rid of the bed bugs. It may be a long process requiring time and patience. There are both chemical and non-chemical approaches to treating your home for bed bugs are available. The EPA has registered more than 300 products for use against bed bugs and most of these can be used by consumers.

Treating bed bugs is very complex. Success will depend on different factors and can take weeks to months.

Dr. Ahmed recommends cleaning the home can help reduce the infestation of bed bugs until an exterminator can come in.

"Vacuum and seal up any cracks, wash clothing in very hot water and on hot dry cycles, freeze articles that may have been used as hiding places for the bed bugs," she said.

Get more tips on getting rid of bed bugs in your home.