If you think that bed bugs can only infest dirty homes, you’re wrong. Be careful with bed bug bite, bed bugs can be happy in just about anywhere as evidenced by their population explosion in so many U.S. states, including Cincinnati, Chicago and Detroit. Though there is a stigma attached to having a bed bug infestation, the fact is that these insects can live in filthy surroundings, as well as in five-star environments. Experts believe that the cause of this problem is largely due to travel. Since people can now travel with ease to other states or other countries, it’s also easier for them to get bed bugs and bring these creatures home with them. Hence, you have to be very careful when traveling or even when having friends over. You never know who might be bringing these tiny bloodsuckers into your home.

Everyone knows how hard it is to deal with pest infestations. Not only is a pest problem physically taxing and financially draining, but facing a bed bug problem is also upsetting and distressing. With all of these issues on the mind of a victim, it’s no wonder that there are so many health issues connected with bed bug problems.

Is This a Bed Bug Bite?

You won’t usually notice that you have an active infestation until you or one of your loved ones get bitten. Because there are so many different kinds of pests that can infest your home, it’s important to know how a bed bug bite looks like. A bed bug bite closely resembles a mosquito bite, but the former is usually smaller. Bed bug bites are pretty unique because these often occur in groups of three or more and are always found in a row. But it will still be difficult to confirm if the bites were really from a bed bug, which is why you need to observe for other signs of bed bug presence, such as droppings or fecal spots, empty shells, as well as live bugs.

Img: pictures of bed bugs by http://www.flickr.com – Source

How Do I Treat a Bed Bug Bite?

Bed bug bites just go away after a couple of days. So, treatment is not generally needed except for special conditions, like when a secondary infection occurs or when a person experiences an allergic reaction.

1. Presence of Secondary Infection

Although you won’t feel the bite because the bug injects a chemical that numbs the area, the site can become itchy after a day or two. When you scratch the area and it gets severely irritated, an infection can occur especially once the skin becomes raw. Bacteria and other harmful microorganisms can easily enter the body once the skin is wounded. So, an antiseptic or antibiotic cream or ointment should be applied on the affected area.

2. Allergic Reaction

If you experience an allergic reaction to the bite, your doctor will probably prescribe oral antihistamines or corticosteroid creams. Severe allergic reactions to bed bug bites are rare, but these do occur. So, if someone bitten experiences breathing problems, generalized swelling, or loss of consciousness, he or she must be brought to the hospital right away.

Citations:

• louento.pix. “Feeding – After”. April 17, 2009. Online image. Flickr. April 19, 2013.

About the author: Claire Lassiter is a freelance writer who often writes about pest management. Her articles have been used by known pest control companies, like Rove, and she hopes that these will help others in finding solutions to their pest problems.