Bed Bug Bites
Have you ever woken up and find itchy red spots on your face, arms, or legs? If so, you might have been bitten by a bed bug. A bug bites the exposed body parts of a sleeping human.
These bugs suck the blood of warm-blooded animals, especially humans. The bites inflicted by these bugs may vary in severity depending on the person being bitten. There are some victims who don’t notice the bite while others suffer from swelling and infection.
Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, reddish-brown in color, and they have an oval and flat body shape.
During the day, these bugs hide in crevices or cracks of the bed, box spring, headboard, or bed frame. If you suspect that you have these insects at home, you need to immediately treat the infestation.
Failure to take action will result in health complications, such as suffering from bug bites.
Signs Of Bed Bug Bites
Bed bugs bite for human blood. These creatures thrive during the night and normally go for the body’s exposed areas:
- Face
- Neck
- Arms
- Legs
Bug bites are painless and you wouldn’t notice it right away. However, small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin may start to appear. The most common symptoms of these bites are:
- Redness, usually with a darker spot in the middle
- Swelling and severe itching
- The bites are typically arranged in a linear manner or in a cluster
- Usually found on the face, neck, legs, or arms
These bites can be very itchy, and if the bites are scratched, it can lead to an open wound that can be very vulnerable to bacterial infection.
Although there are certain people who have no reaction to these bites, there are also others who experience allergic reaction which can include: severe itching, hives, or blisters. If you or anyone you know has been bitten by this bug, and start to develop symptoms of an allergic reaction, immediately seek medical treatment.
Bed Bug Bites: Treatment And Prevention
The bites that are itchy and red will eventually fade away on their own after seven days. You can also help speed up the recovery if you:
- Apply an ointment with hydrocortisone
- Take oral antihistamine
Once you have treated your bed bug bites, it is time to address the infestation. Here are some of the basic things you can do to prevent further infestation and prevent suffering from bug bites again.
- Vacuum your bedroom. You must thoroughly vacuum the cracks and crevices in your bedroom area. These can successfully get rid of bed bugs.
- Use hot water to wash and clean your beddings and clothes. You must wash your clothes and other items in very hot water to kill bed bugs. It is advisable to use water with 120F temperature.
- Dry your clothes using the dryer. You must place your wet clothes, bedding, or other items in a clothes dryer and set it at the highest heat setting for about 20 minutes. Doing so will help kill these bugs and their eggs.
