Bed bug bites usually do not pose a serious medical threat. The best way to treat a bite is to avoid scratching the area and apply antiseptic creams or lotions and take an antihistamine. Bed bug infestations are commonly treated by insecticide spraying. If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact your landlord or professional pest control company that is experienced with treating bed bugs. The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for the signs of an infestation.
This information is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any questions about the parasites described above or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.
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Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. A severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis is also possible but rare. You may have an infection and need treatment with antibiotics.
Page last reviewed: 21 January Next review due: 21 January Check if it's bedbugs Bedbugs can be dark yellow, red or brown.
Severe itchiness may result in further complications, such as infection or scarring. If severe itching is experienced, people may be prescribed corticosteroid creams and antihistamine pills or liquid. One way to help prevent exposure and potential infestations by bed bugs is to be able to recognize bed bugs and distinguish them from other pests. In a study , some 35 percent of polled American business travellers and 28 percent of leisure travellers were unable to tell a bed bug apart from other household pests.
The nymphs are easier to see if they have just feed when the blood fills their abdomen, giving it a reddish brown color. Adult bed bugs are typically far easier to spot than nymphs. Identifiable characteristics of most adult bed bugs include:. On average, one female can produce at least eggs over her lifetime. Egg-laying females often increase the volume and frequency of feeding to support their brood. The key to preventing bed bug bites is to stop the insects entering, feeding, and breeding in human environments.
In the daytime, bed bugs often seek refuge in the cracks and crevices of furniture, flooring, walls, and mattresses. The seams and folds of upholstered furniture can also offer an ideal hiding place. Bed bugs have been known to persist in vacuum canisters or units. The insects tend to pick hiding spots near human sleeping quarters, including bedrooms. Bed bugs found in other rooms are usually a sign of a severe infestation. They can, however, be found at higher rates in places, such as hotels, if infestations are not properly cleared.
In severe or persistent cases, furniture or infected items may need to be destroyed, ideally by burning. Read the article in Spanish.
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