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  1 1 KEY POINTS: * Bed bugs have not been demonstrated to be effective transmitters of disease * Not everyone reacts to bed bug bites and some have delayed reactions to the bite * Bed bug bite symptoms typically appear as red, itchy welts but can vary from one individual to the next * Bite symptoms often appear in rows or clusters * A single bug can be responsible for numerous bite symptoms Although over 28 disease pathogens have been found in bed bugs, transmission of these pathogens to humans has never been documented and is considered highly unlikely. For this reason, they are not considered a serious disease threat. Their medical significance is mainly limited to the itching and inflammation associated with their bite. Not everyone reacts to bed bug bites in the same fashion. Some people have reactions that are delayed for several days or more while others do not react at all. Reactions to bites can also vary significantly between individuals from a mild itchy welt to a more severe rash like symptom. The most common reactions appear as a raised, reddened welt similar to a mosquito bite. Bites tend to be very itchy and often appear in rows of 3-4 welts or more. There are currently a couple of explanations for why bites often appear in rows. The first explanation is based on the sensitivity of bed bugs to motion. A single bug may withdraw its mouthparts while feeding in response to the slightest disturbance (i.e. person twitches during sleep). After removing their mouthparts, the bug will move a short distance and then begin feeding again, resulting in several bites in a row caused by a single bug. The second explanation involves numerous bugs that are lined up one next to the other (typically along a fold in a bed sheet) all feeding at the same time (similar to cattle at a trough). The important point is that the number of welts does not always correlate with the number of bugs that bit the individual. Thus, just a few bugs can be responsible for many welts in a single evening. It is also very important to realize that bed bugs cannot be diagnosed by the bite alone. While a medical professional can examine the bites, they can only conclude that the bite symptoms are consistent with those produced by bed bugs. This is not a confirmation however it does provide the grounds for suspecting that bed bugs may be present and that a professional should be called in to perform an inspection for the presence of bed bugs in the structure where the bites occurred. TheBedBugDude answered in Pest Control/Weeds about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Lee… 0 0 In my experience, once you know where to look (mattress seams, other hidden nooks), you'll find the actual bugs pretty quickly. They're stealthy, but not that difficult to diagnose once you know where to look. Also, they leave blood-colored droppings all over their feeding ground. Perhaps I'm generalizing too much from my own experience, but all the mystification and "you need a professional!" crap that I hear from you and other self-proclaimed experts really rings false to me. If you have lots of bug bites when you wake up, look for round blood-colored insects in the seams of your mattress. If that fails, THEN you might need a "professional." Lee commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 I had something similar happen to me in 6th grade. All of a sudden, I'd wake up in the morning and find huge spreads of bites all across my chest, back and limbs, and they itched like hell. They looked like mosquito bites, too. Thing was, we never FOUND any bedbugs. If it was anything, it was microscopic. I don't think it was fleas, either...the bit wasn't like a flea, I never saw fleas, and we didn't have any reason to have fleas in the house. So we washed all my bedding and all my clothes in hot hot water, vacuumed the surface of the mattress (hey, it's what we were told) and flipped it over, vacuumed the whole room, and then set a bug bomb. Seemed to do the trick. Sacrelicious answered in Pest Control/Weeds about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 my experience has been similar to dunthor and westcoastin. smaller and closer together. also, bedbugs tend to go for hands, fingers, and feet. also, for me anyway, they itched differently than mosquito bites itch and actually not quite as badly. sort of a pinprick type itch in a very concentrated area moreso than an "ohmygodiwanttoscratchmyentireshinoffrightnow" type itch. but then again, i'm like creme brulee for mosquitos. new york state of mind answered in Pest Control/Weeds about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Contrary to the others, my experience with them was very much like mosquito bites. Large red weals that didn't really itch unless you touched them, but then they were quite awful. The difference is that you tend to get far more bites, and they collect in certain areas (usually, your arms, legs and anywhere else that is exposed by your sleeping clothes -- they don't tend to go under your clothes to feed). I understand there are various factors that can affect the symptoms, though. Some people have allergic reactions and will get the more hive-like outbreak, and if you're primarily being fed on by young bugs, the weals will be smaller. Lee answered in Pest Control/Weeds about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Agree with westcoastin. I was at a hotel for a conference and got a rash on my face and shoulder. It didn't look like mosquito bites and I thought I must have been allergic to the detergent in the sheets. When I got home I asked my allergist about it, he said, "bedbugs" EEEW! I called the hotel to tell them but they didn't seem concerned at all. Dunthor answered in Pest Control/Weeds about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Not really. In my experience the bites are smaller, little red dots. They tend to show up in groups or lines all close together. At least for me, the itch was more painful than mosquito bites. I ended up with bed bugs in apartment back in Cambridge, MA about 7 years ago. My stupid roommate brought in a couch in that he found on the street. westcoastin answered in Pest Control/Weeds about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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