An Insect Bite Bigger than a Quarter – Should You Go See a Doctor? | University of Utah Health

Dr. Miller: You’ve had a big reaction to a bug bite. When should you see a physician? We’re going to talk about that next on Scope Radio. I’m Dr. Tom Miller.

Announcer: Access to our experts with in-depth information about the biggest health issues facing you today. The Specialists with Dr. Tom Miller is on The Scope.

Dr. Miller: I’m here with Dr. Mark Eliason. He is an assistant professor in dermatology. Mark, sometimes I have patients come into the office with a large, red, inflamed area where they’ve been bitten either by a tick or even stung by a wasp, or a bee, and my understanding is that they don’t necessarily need to be treated for an infection, but this is just a reaction to the sting that may take a few days to go down. Could you comment on that?

Dr. Eliason: Sure, I’d love to. So when we get a bite or a sting or some sort of an insect penetrates our skin in some way, it can often look very impressive. People can get reactions that range from the size of a dime to the size of your hand, and even though it’s large and it can be very frightening to see that, it often is something that is self-resolving, and it will get better whether it’s treated or not.

Dr. Miller: Now sometimes these patients will seek antibiotics thinking that it is an infection and they need to be treated, but my understanding and training has been, no, in most cases, that’s not true.

Dr. Eliason: That’s right, and it’s a hard thing to sometimes make a distinction for because when someone has a real infection, the skin is red, it’s hot, and it often hurts. These bites can also be red and they can be swollen and sometimes it will overlap with the systems that we are worried about, but there are some things you can watch for that can help you understand, is this something that’s worrisome enough it should be treated with prescription medication, or can some simple maneuvers at home take care of this.

Dr. Miller: Now what kinds of medications other than antibiotics might affect or help with this kind of a large reaction?

Dr. Eliason: In most cases, these reactions, especially the ones that happen quickly within a couple of hours from the bite or the sting, are mediated or caused by a molecule in your skin that’s called histamine. Therefore, medicines that are antihistamines such as Benadryl and Allegra and Zyrtec are my first-line treatments for these. These usually work pretty fast. You have to be aware, some of these are sedating, and so people that take them can get pretty tired, so when you pick them up, if you’re not certain which ones make people tired and which ones don’t, check with the pharmacist or ask if this is going to make you fall asleep when you’re driving your car because you don’t want to do that.

Dr. Miller: Mark, depending on which antihistamine you take, whether that’s sedating or non-sedating, how quickly should you see a response in reducing the size of the bite?

Dr. Eliason: Sure, so the Benadryl seems to work a little bit faster, and for most people, within a couple of hours, the swelling starts to go down. That’s not the case in all situations. Sometimes it takes a whole day to see the improvement. But generally, it’s pretty fast. The non-sedating antihistamines like Zyrtec and Allegra are designed to stay in our system a little bit longer, that means it takes a little bit more time for them to have an effect, and so most people may take a whole day after they take those before they can see swelling improve.

Dr. Miller: Regarding one of the most common sedating antihistamines, Benadryl or diphenhydramine, which it’s known as generically, would you recommend taking one or two pills at the beginning?

Dr. Eliason: Sure. It’s often based upon weight. So an average-sized adult could actually take safely more than one Benadryl. I have some patients and of course we look at other medicines that they’re on first to make sure this is okay, but they’ll take between two to four Benadryl depending on what we’re treating and if they’re a large enough individual to take that, so a 70-kilogram/150-pound person can usually take 2 Benadryl very safely, and it does work better than just one.

Dr. Miller: So you might think that there would be an infection though it wouldn’t be very common if the redness started to spread up the arm or if you developed a fever or if you had some of the other signs of infection, then at that point you should probably be seen by a physician.

Dr. Eliason: Absolutely. When bites or these reactions occur on the skin and they’re symmetric, they look like a nice oval or a nice circle and they’re kind of the same distance in each direction, usually that’s associated with a local reaction to whatever the insect put in the skin when the bite happened. When they’re spreading, when people get lines in the arms or someone’s reporting that they’re getting a figure, that’s a horse of a different color, so to speak. Those are things that need to be addressed by a physician.

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updated: July 2, 2019
originally published: March 3, 2015

Allergies to bites and stings

About allergies to bites and stings

Bites and stings usually cause irritation of the skin, which is not an allergic response, but some people can also have allergic symptoms that range from mild to severe and life threatening.

Insect stings from bees, wasps and the Australian jack jumper ant are a common cause of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in Australia.

Severe reactions to insect bites from mosquitoes, midges, March flies and ticks are less common, although bites can cause milder allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions to snake bites are rare.

Causes of allergies to bites and stings

Venoms from stinging insects such as bees, wasps and ants are one of the most common causes of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

If you are allergic to one type of stinging insect, you will not necessarily be allergic to another type. Biting insects such as midges and mosquitoes are more likely to cause local allergic reactions, such as redness and/or swelling, but can sometimes cause allergic reactions.

Bees and wasps

Honey bee is the most common cause of allergic reactions to insects in Australia. Native Australian bees can also cause allergic reactions. Bees can sting only once, because they inject a venom sac into the skin and then die.

Unlike bees, paper wasps and European wasps can sting several times. Although paper wasps cause most of the serious stings, the European wasp is becoming more of a problem in Australia.

Stinging ants

Stings from the Australian jack jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosula) are a major cause of severe allergic reactions in Australia. The stings of jack jumper ants are very painful and can cause generalised allergic reactions or severe allergic reactions. The commonly occurring bull ant can also cause anaphylaxis.

The jack jumper ant (also known as jack jumper or jumping jack) is found along the east coast of Australia and Tasmania. They are approximately 10–15 mm long and are smaller than large bull ants (15–25 mm long).

Stings from the green ant of Queensland and the South American fire ant can also cause allergic reactions.

Ticks

The saliva of the tick known as the Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) causes an allergic reaction in some people. Ticks are present along the east coast of Australia, and extend into Gippsland in Victoria. Ticks live on vegetation and attach to and bite into the skin of people and animals.

Reactions to the attachment of ticksExternal Link include:

• minor redness and itching, which is not due to an allergy
• redness and large areas of swelling at the site caused by a mild allergic reaction
• severe allergic reaction

If you disturb or try to remove the tick, it can inject its saliva and this can cause people who are allergic to have a life-threatening severe allergic reaction. People with tick allergies can sometimes be allergic to red meat (mammalian meat) and gelatine.

Symptoms of allergies to bites and stings

The immune system reacts to specific triggers, also known as allergens, in all allergies. Your immune system produces antibodies that detect the allergen and cause inflammatory reactions and the release of chemicals including histamine.

Allergic reactions to insect stings and bites range from mild local reactions at the site of the sting or bite to severe allergic reactions that are life threatening. Symptoms are more likely to improve in children than adults. Adults are at the greatest risk of a severe allergic reaction.

Stings and bites often hurt and can cause minor redness and itching at the site, but these symptoms are not caused by an allergic reaction.

Keep a record of your symptoms

Diagnosing an allergy can be difficult. If you think you may have an allergy after being bitten or stung, make a diary record of your symptoms to help you and your doctor understand the cause of your symptoms.

Include information about whether your symptoms occur:

• inside your home, outside or both
• for a short time or longer
• at night, during the day or when you wake up
• at a particular time of the year
• near animals
• after you have been stung or bitten by an insect.

Local skin allergic reactions

Some people will have an allergic reaction that causes a rash or a large swelling around the site of the sting or bite.

Generalised allergic reactions

A generalised allergic reaction affects parts of the body beyond the site of the sting or bite, but it is not life threatening.

Symptoms of a generalised allergic reaction include red swelling skin, or rash or hives (urticaria) in areas of the body other than at the site of the sting or bite.

Although these symptoms are not life threatening, if you have experienced a generalised allergic reaction, you should visit your doctor, who may refer you to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

Severe allergic reaction – anaphylaxis

Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) after an insect bite or sting are potentially life threatening and cause approximately 3 deaths per year in Australia.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include:

• difficult or noisy breathing
• swelling of the tongue
• swelling or tightness of the throat
• difficulty talking or hoarse voice
• wheezing or coughing
• persistent dizziness or collapse
• paleness and floppiness in young children.

Milder allergic symptoms that can occur before a severe allergic reaction include:

• swelling of the lips, face and eyes
• hives or welts
• tingling mouth
• abdominal pain, vomiting – these are signs of anaphylaxis for insect allergy.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms after an insect sting or bite, you are at greater risk of having another severe reaction if you are stung or bitten by the same type of insect. You should ask your doctor to refer you to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

Diagnosis of allergies to bites and stings

If you have allergic symptoms after you have an insect sting or bite, you should visit your family doctor who will ask some questions about your reactions. Your diary of your symptoms will help you to answer accurately. To diagnose your allergy, your doctor may refer you to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

The clinical immunology/allergy specialist can test for allergies using several methods, depending on the type of potential allergy. To test for an allergy to a bite or sting, the allergist may use skin testing or allergy blood testing.

Some people with tick allergy can become allergic to red meat (mammalian meat allergyExternal Link) and gelatine. Testing for these allergies is more complicated and you should talk to your doctor or clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) strongly advises against the use of unproven, non evidence-based allergy testsExternal Link and treatments.

Unproven methods to test for allergies

A number of methods claim to test for allergies, but have not been scientifically proven. They are often costly and could lead to dangerous avoidance of certain foods. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) advises against the use of:

• cytotoxic food testing
• electrodermal testing
• hair analysis
• iridology
• kinesiology
• pulse testing
• reflexology
• Vega testing

Always speak with your doctor if you are thinking of using a complementary medicine or therapy for allergies.

Treatment for allergies to bites and stings

The best strategy for treatment is to reduce the risk of insect bites and stings. Approaches to reducing the risk of stings and bites include:

• Cover up with long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
• Tuck your shirt into your trousers and your trousers into socks.
• Wear light-coloured clothing.
• Wear shoes when outdoors.
• Use an insect repellent with DEET.
• Avoid being outdoors near dawn or dusk.
• Check if ticks are widespread in your location.
• Avoid bees and wasps.
• Have professionals remove wasp, bee and ant nests near your home.

Emergency treatment for severe allergic reactions

In Australia, approximately 3 people die each year from a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) caused by a stinging insect allergy. Older people and those with breathing problems are at greatest risk and should be seen by a clinical immunology/allergy specialist.

If you have had a severe allergic reaction to a stinging insect, you are more likely to have one again if stung.

If you are at risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), carry an adrenaline injector such as EpiPen® or Anapen®, and a means of calling for medical assistance such as a mobile telephone.

Emergency responses for severe allergic reactionExternal Link include:

• Administer adrenaline with an injector (EpiPen® or Anapen®)
• Always dial triple zero (000) to call an ambulance in a medical emergency.
• Don’t allow the patient to stand or walk.

If you are at risk of a severe allergic reaction you should:

• Have an Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Anaphylaxis Action PlanExternal Link.
• Carry an adrenaline injector (EpiPen® or Anapen®) to treat a severe allergic reaction.
• Consider wearing medical identification jewellery – this increases the likelihood that adrenaline will be administered in an emergency.
• Avoid medication (where possible) that may increase the severity of allergic reaction or complicate its treatment – such as beta blockers.
• Seek urgent medical assistance if stung or bitten.

First aid for minor allergic reactions

Bees often leave a barbed sting and flicking the sting out of the wound within 30 seconds will help to reduce the amount of venom entering your body. Use the edge of a fingernail, credit card or car key to flick the sting. Do not pull or squeeze the venom sac, as this may increase the amount of venom injected.

Wasps do not leave a sting behind, but can sting several times.

For minor allergic reactions, first aid approaches include:

• Apply a cold pack to the area.
• Apply soothing creams.
• Take oral antihistamines to help reduce itching.

For large and painful areas of swelling, you may need to visit your doctor to get cortisone tablets to reduce the swelling.

Removing ticks

If you need to remove a tick, watch this animation about how to safely remove a tickExternal Link.

For all tick bites, you should first kill the tick with a rapid freezing spray so the tick cannot inject saliva into your body. Once the tick is dead, you should remove it as soon and as safely as possible. This will help to reduce the risk of developing infections or tick paralysis. If you are not allergic to ticks, correct and rapid removal will reduce the risk of developing an allergy.

The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) warns against the common advice of using tweezers to pull a live tick out of the skin.

If you are allergic to ticks, you are at risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) if bitten. If you find a tick, you should:

• Kill the tick by freezing it with a rapid freezing spray – this will stop the tick injecting its saliva into your body.
• Have the tick removed in an emergency department of a hospital, especially if you are highly allergic.

Some people who are not as highly allergic can be trained by a healthcare professional to safely remove ticks.

Products to freeze and kill ticks include ether-containing sprays which are available at pharmacies. Freezing and killing ticks before removal is also recommended for people who are not allergic to tick bites.

Venom immunotherapy for allergies to stings and bites

In some cases, your clinical immunology/allergy specialist may suggest venom immunotherapy (VIT)External Link which is also known as desensitisation. Venom immunotherapy involves a series of injections of commercial venom preparations, usually over 3 to 5 years. This can help to improve tolerance of the insect venom and reduce symptoms.

Venom immunotherapy is not available for tick allergies.

Where to get help

• In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
• Emergency department of your nearest hospital
• Your GP (doctor)
• NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• St John Ambulance AustraliaExternal Link Tel. 1300 360 455
• Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)External Link
  • Allergic reactions to bites and stingsExternal Link
  • Locate a specialistExternal Link
• Allergy & Anaphylaxis AustraliaExternal Link

What do bed bug bites look like on the human body?

Bed bugs are classified as harmful insects; they enter dwellings together with people. Parasites are very annoying, they prefer to settle next to the sleeping place, they are active at night. Insects suck blood from sleeping people. After these attacks, specific lesions appear on the skin, resembling mosquito bite marks. It is important to know how to protect yourself from the attacks of bloodthirsty settlers, to take timely measures aimed at their destruction.

Contents

How do you recognize bedbug bites and how do they differ from other insects?

Not everyone can differentiate bedbug bites from bites of other pests. These creatures feed exclusively on human blood, they do not even drink water. They parasitize on humans, can attack pets, birds and even rodents. They create secret shelters for themselves near the source of feeding – in sofas, beds, mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture. The ability to bite painfully is possessed by both adults and their offspring.

Important! For bedbugs, blood is the main source of life; without it, pests die and are deprived of the opportunity to reproduce.

In appearance, the bites of these insects are reddish spots forming paths, slightly swollen. They are located at approximately the same distance from each other. This is due to the fact that the pest does not attack one place, but bites in a chain. There is no poison in such punctures, but they cause severe discomfort. If a person is attacked by several individuals at once, many tracks remain on the body.

One series of punctures left by bedbugs overnight disappears in about 7 days. If there are a lot of pests in the home, the discomfort will be very strong. In rooms heavily infested with bedbugs, up to 500 or more bites per night remain on the body of people. These wounds are bloodless, but dried traces of blood can be seen on bedding. Often, eaten but dead parasites lie next to the red droplets, crushed during sleep by a person.

People who have not previously encountered bedbug bites often mistake marks on the body for rashes of unclear etiology. Some think they were bitten by other insects.

Mistakes in interpretation lead to the fact that the bugs remain undetected for a long time.

Differences between bedbug bites and other common insects

Mosquitoes attack in summer , making an annoying squeak, their appearance is hard not to notice. At the same time, they pierce the skin without pain. A mosquito can bite even through thin clothing. After drinking blood, it leaves a pronounced mark, which is a blister with fuzzy contours, which itches a lot. In the mosquito population, only female individuals feed on blood, they need it for better reproduction of offspring. Bedbugs attack silently and year-round, punctures on the skin hurt. They give priority to bare areas of the body, crawl under clothes. To get enough, one puncture is not enough for them, so the parasites leave tracks on the body.

Fleas prefer to parasitize animals . If the population is large, they can cause discomfort to people. Insects attack armpit cavities, waist area and lower legs. Their bites are small points that have a chaotic arrangement.

Tick bite marks large and painful, always single . The parasite can be seen visually at the crime scene, it digs into the body.

Bed bugs are domestic insects, but midges bite outdoors during the warm season , causing instant discomfort. They leave numerous punctures on the body, which are arranged randomly. Dried blood is visible in the center of the bites, irritation in the form of redness appears around.

Sometimes dermatologists confuse traces of bedbug attacks with allergies and even chicken pox . In fact, it is not difficult to differentiate the bites of these parasites. They are characterized by a number of features. It is worth catching a bug red-handed and making sure that it is present when the first suspicions appear. It is recommended to carefully inspect the bed, blanket and other accessories for sleeping. You can try to abruptly turn on the lighting at night, if there are bugs in the house, they will definitely show up.

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Favorite bite sites for bed bugs

Bed bugs prefer to attack exposed areas of the body, but sometimes bed bugs get under clothes. They prefer areas of the body where the skin is tender and sensitive. In such places, it is easiest to leave punctures and get to the blood, respectively, and saturation occurs quickly.

The most vulnerable areas include the face, neck, inner surface of the hands, groin, abdomen. Sometimes bedbugs bite on the legs.

Symptoms after bed bug bites

It was found that 70% of people do not notice the bites of domestic bugs , but specific marks still remain on the body, which cannot be ignored.

And the symptoms are quite characteristic:

• The puncture sites are round in shape and vary in diameter. In the center, a miniature hole made by the proboscis is noticeable.
• As for the color of the bites, they can be either pink or red. Almost always these places are a little swollen.
• Punctures are grouped in paths, insects move along the line of capillaries, leaving a chain of 3-6 or more bites.
• Punctures spaced 2-4 cm apart.
• Lesions present on exposed areas of the body.
• At the moments of the bites themselves, there is discomfort, but insignificant.
• These places itch, itch and become inflamed. The intensity of discomfort is influenced by the individual reaction.

Bedbugs bite all year round, both in warm and cold seasons. Fresh bite marks usually appear in the morning after night. During the day, pests hide in their shelters. During daylight hours, bedbugs attack only if they are very hungry.

How dangerous are bed bug bites?

One version says that bedbugs carry infectious diseases, but scientists have not yet found confirmation of this. There is a possibility that parasites transmit pathogenic microorganisms that provoke the development of dangerous diseases like tuberculosis and hepatitis. Some believe that Burnet’s rickettsiae are found in insect waste. We are talking about intracellular parasite bacteria that provoke an increase in body temperature and have a toxic effect on the body. Sometimes they can cause SARS.

Important! The main danger of bedbug bites is that they deprive people of the opportunity to sleep and rest normally.

Due to regular sleep disturbance, people become irritable and their productivity decreases. Bedbugs that have settled indoors in large numbers make the life of the household unbearable.

Blood-sucking insects can leave 500 bites or more, which is a large part of the body. Due to systemic bedbug bites, some people develop a skin rash – this problem becomes chronic. It is impossible to exclude the development of an allergic reaction with all the negative consequences. The response of parasites to insect bites may include swelling, watery eyes, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. Dangerous consequences include hives and even suffocation. Symptoms of neurosis often appear, some begin to think that parasites are crawling over them – this negatively affects overall well-being.

Multiple bedbug bites can cause angioedema, this is rare, but it does happen. With individual intolerance, anaphylactic shock may develop.

Involuntary scratching of itchy bites is fraught with infection, inflammation of lesions on the skin.

If there are many punctures, and the attacks of bedbugs are regular, signs of anemia may appear – a decrease in the concentration of iron in the blood. This condition is especially dangerous for young children.

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How to protect yourself from bedbugs

In order to prevent the appearance of bedbugs in the house, it is necessary to repair all cracks in the walls. Do-it-yourself pest control is rarely effective. Folk remedies against these pests help little. The most reliable way to protect against bedbugs is to contact a professional pest control service. This should be done at the first suspicion of the presence of parasites in the house. Representatives of the Dezstantsiya service examine a house or apartment, identify pockets of accumulation of parasites, after which the quality and quickly exterminate the entire population.

Sanitization is carried out using specialized equipment using combined insecticides, which are characterized by prolonged action. Pesticides are sprayed by a fog generator. We use only chemical methods for the destruction of bedbugs in the apartment, as they have proven their speed and effectiveness. During such processing, there should be no residents and pets in the apartment.

This technology of spraying insecticides is considered the most effective, it ensures their uniform distribution throughout the site, penetration into places with difficult access.

Professional sanitation breaks the breeding chain, destroys adults and their larvae. An event aimed at combating bedbugs does not harm people and pets. The very next day you can sleep peacefully, because most of the population dies at the first contact with insecticides. The few surviving individuals are in a state of paralysis, their vital activity quickly stops due to intoxication.

Our disinfection and disinfection service is results driven and gives a guarantee for the destruction of bedbugs . This means that if you suspect the reappearance of bedbugs, you can always contact us again free of charge. Keep in mind that perhaps the problem lies not in your apartment, but in the housing of dysfunctional neighbors. Our experts will tell you what to do in this case and achieve forced pest control for them.

For your convenience, we are ready to leave for processing 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

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How to distinguish a bug bite?

Bed bugs are old, but extremely undesirable “neighbors” of people. Unlike cockroaches, which also prefer to live in human habitation, bed bugs feed exclusively on blood. That is, in order to get food for himself, he must pierce the skin of a person. Consider how to distinguish a bedbug bite from other skin lesions. A detailed description of the symptoms and photos of the effects of bites on the skin will help us with this.

It is not uncommon for people to mistake a bug bite that appears on the skin for another injury. As you can see in the photo, outwardly it is very similar to the consequences of “close contact” with other bloodsucking insects. For example, mosquitoes or fleas. However, if you have experience, it is still possible to distinguish the bites of domestic bugs from other injuries, since there are typical signs.

Consider how you can determine which insect has damaged the skin, as well as what the consequences of bedbug bites may be.

Symptoms

To understand whether bedbugs appeared in the house or not, you need to know how the bite of this parasite differs from other bloodsuckers.

Presence of characteristic tracks

The bite is never single. As you can see in the photo, damage to the skin during the attack of this parasite is arranged in the form of “tracks”.

This is due to the fact that the bug, in order to get enough, needs to make from 3 to 7 bites. Therefore, even if only one bug attacked a person, there will be several bites. And since there are usually a lot of insects in the apartment, they will appear in large numbers.

Tip! There are cases when, in heavily contaminated rooms, up to 500 bites appeared on the human body in one night.

Itching and pain

Despite the fact that the mosquito bite also itches and hurts, these symptoms are more pronounced during the “work” of the bug. However, this is not an absolute sign by which one can accurately distinguish the bite of a bug from other bloodsuckers, since the severity of symptoms is highly dependent on the individual reactions of the body. The fact is that the bug, piercing the skin, not only drinks blood, but also injects a special secret. This secret is necessary to relieve pain in the victim when the skin is punctured, as well as to thin the blood.

Tip! It injects an anesthetic when bitten, which is inherent in many bloodsucking insects. This is done, of course, not out of concern for the feelings of the victim, but for security reasons. Thanks to such local anesthesia, skin punctures go unnoticed by the victim, which means that the likelihood that the parasite will have time to get enough and run away increases.

The appearance of edema and pain at the site of the bite is a kind of allergic reaction of the body to the secretion of an insect. If a person has low sensitivity, then there are practically no traces left. But with increased sensitivity, large bumps form on the body, which hurt and itch a lot.

Time of appearance

Most often, bed bug bites are found in the morning. This is due to the daily cycle of the insect, which shows the greatest activity from 3 to 7 in the morning. So, if itchy swelling appeared after a walk in the park, then the bugs here, most likely, are not to blame.

On the other hand, the light is not a deterrent for the bug, a hungry insect can attack a person during the day.

Consequences

In principle, the bug bite itself does not pose a particular health hazard. There is currently no evidence that these insects carry infections. However, the consequences can be quite severe:

• Individual body reactions. In some people, allergic reactions to bedbugs can be very pronounced, this is manifested by the formation of significant edema, the appearance of a rash, a runny nose, and other symptoms.

• Possible infection. The results of the “night hunting” of bedbugs cause an itching sensation, which provokes scratching with damage to the skin, and scratches on the skin favor infection. In this case, a serious inflammatory reaction may develop, requiring long-term treatment.

• Psychological trauma. The realization that insects that drink blood crawl over the body at night does not contribute to restful sleep.

Why don’t bedbugs bite all people?

In fact, the statement that some people are not bitten by bed bugs is incorrect. If one person lives in an infected room, then the parasites have no choice, they will bite the victim, not paying attention to her blood type, age and gender.

But in the presence of several people, parasites will prefer to bite the victim with thinner and more delicate skin. That is, the risk of being bitten is always higher in children and women. In addition, insensitive people may simply not notice that they have been bitten. If small spots remain at the bite sites that do not hurt or itch, few people pay attention to such trifles.

Tip! In the absence of people, bedbugs can also attack pets. They do not pierce the skin of a dog, but some cats may suffer from parasites. Most protected from bedbugs are cats with thick hair, as well as sphinxes, which naturally have thicker and rougher skin than other breeds.

Should bedbug bites be treated?

There is no specific therapy for bedbug bites. But if there is severe itching or swelling, then it is worth taking measures to eliminate the symptoms.

• You can soak the bites with concentrated baking soda or apply ice to the affected skin.

• To prevent the development of inflammatory reactions in the presence of scratching, it is recommended to use antiseptic agents. Removes itching and disinfects the surface of the skin tincture of propolis or St. John’s wort.

• Zvezdochka balm and Fenistil gel help well in treatment.

Prevention

Having found signs of bites on the body, you should try to determine which insects caused them. This will help photos depicting the characteristic symptoms of bites.

Once it becomes clear that bed bugs are the cause of the damage, you must immediately take measures to completely exterminate them. There is no other way to avoid the appearance of new bites.

How can you get rid of bed bugs in your house? There are two ways:

• Use the services of exterminators;
• Spray rooms yourself.

The first option should be chosen if the room is heavily infested. Professionals use the most effective means for the destruction of bedbugs, which are prohibited for use in everyday life.

But if there is no opportunity to turn to professionals, or the contamination of the premises is insignificant, then you can deal with the problem yourself. To do this, you will need to purchase a chemical agent (it is better to choose a specialized one, created specifically for the fight against bedbugs) and process it in accordance with the instructions given in the instructions.

Conclusions

So, bug bites, although similar to the “work” of other bloodsucking insects, have their own characteristic features. If you find bite marks in yourself or your children, you must immediately treat the premises to completely exterminate the parasites.