Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. Bedbugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, range from 1 mm to 7 mm (roughly the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny) and can live several months without a blood meal.

Bedbugs are found across the globe from North and South America to Africa, Asia, and Europe. Although the presence of bedbugs was traditionally seen as a problem in developing countries, there has been a massive resurgence of activity throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe. Bedbugs have been found in five-star hotels and resorts and their presence is not determined by the cleanliness of the living conditions where they are found.

 

Bedbug infestations usually occur around or near the areas where people sleep. These areas include apartments, shelters, rooming houses, hotels, cruise ships, buses, trains, and dorm rooms. They hide during the day in places such as seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards, dresser tables, inside cracks or crevices, behind wallpaper, or any other clutter or objects around a bed. Bed bugs have been shown to be able to travel over 100 feet in a night but tend to live within 8 feet of where people sleep.

One of the easiest ways to identify a bedbug infestation is by the telltale bite marks on the face, neck, arms, hands, or any other body parts while sleeping. However, these bite marks may take as long as 14 days to develop in some people so it is important to look for other clues when determining if bed bugs have infested an area. These signs include:

It is hard to tell if you’ve been bitten by a bedbug unless you find bed bugs or signs of infestation. When bedbugs bite, they inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that prevents a person from realizing he or she is being bitten. Most people do not realize they have been bitten until bite marks appear anywhere from one to several days after the initial bite. The bite marks are similar to that of a mosquito or a flea -- a slightly swollen and red area that may itch and be irritating. The bite marks may be random or appear in a straight line. Other symptoms of bed bug bites include insomnia, anxiety, and skin problems that arise from profuse scratching of the bites.

 

Because bed bug bites affect everyone differently, some people may have no reaction and will not develop bite marks or any other visible signs of being bitten. Other people may be allergic to the bedbugs and can react adversely to the bites. These allergic symptoms can include enlarged bite marks, painful swellings at the bite site, and, on rare occasions, anaphylaxis.

Bedbugs are experts at hiding. Their slim flat bodies allow them to fit into the smallest of spaces and stay there for long periods of time, even without a blood meal. Bedbugs are usually transported from place to place as people travel. The bedbugs travel in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes, bedding, furniture, and anywhere else where they can hide. Most people do not realize they are transporting stowaway bedbugs as they travel from location to location, infecting areas as they travel.

Everyone is at risk of getting bedbugs when visiting an infected area. However, anyone who travels frequently and shares living and sleeping quarters where other people have previously slept has a higher risk of being bitten and or spreading a bed bug infestation.

Bedbug 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. Bedbug infestations are difficult to eliminate; fumigation and volumetric heat are considered two of the most effective means of treatment. If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact your landlord and engage with a professional pest control company that is experienced with treating bedbugs. The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for the signs of an infestation.