How Does an Individual Get a Bed Bug Bite Rash?
Bed bugs commonly infest summer cabins, especially at camps, hiking trail shelters and parks. Many times, when bed bugs are found in an urban home they can be traced back to a visit to one of these facilities.
Bed bugs are attracted to warmth, which is why they bite us as we sleep. They are also attracted to carbon dioxide, which is what is exhaled by oxygen breathing species.
Bed bugs reside in dark areas and crevices near the host. Their only food is the blood they obtain from the host. Hosts for the bed bug are many different species of vertebrates including canaries, poultry, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, mice, bats and unfortunately, man.
How the Bed Bug Feeds
The bed bug feeds on the host while the host sleeps, generally just before dawn. Bed bugs will usually not be seen during the daylight hours unless the infestation is severe.
The bed bug will secure itself to the host’s skin using its claws and then inserts it ‘beak’ into the skin of the host. The ‘beak’ of the bed bug consists of two tubes (stylets); one sucks up the host’s blood while the other injects saliva (venom) in the wound.
This saliva assists in preventing the host’s blood from coagulating to keep it flowing. It also has an anesthetic to numb the feeding area on the host. This saliva is what causes the itching sensation on the host’s skin.
Feeding Based on Age
Nymphs (adolescents) feed for approximately three minutes while an adult bed bug may continue to feed on the blood of the host for ten to fifteen minutes.
Amazingly, a bed bug can live 18 months without any oxygen and as much as a year without any blood. Bed bug bites on a human cause burning, itching and swelling. The degree of symptoms depends upon the host’s susceptibility.
How Common are Bed Bug Rashes?
The National Pest Management Association has stated that prior to the year 2000, as few as 25% of the pest control companies in the United States had encountered an infestation of bed bugs. Currently that number has risen to 95%.
At this point in time 76% of the United States pest control professionals think that the bed bug is the most difficult pest to eradicate.
Companies that previously received one or two calls to eliminate bed bugs per year are now reporting that they receive one or two calls weekly.
Why has the Infestation of Bed Bugs Resurged?
There are various factors that are contributing to the bed bug resurgence in the United States. Citizens are frequently traveling to foreign areas that are infested with the bed bugs.
Second-hand furniture and furnishings have become extremely popular. Bed bugs have increased their resistance to the various pesticides. Bed bug control has been neglected by the pest control industry since the ‘40s.
What Does a Bed Bug Rash Look Like?
When bed bugs have bitten an individual, they could develop what is known as a bed bug rash. These rashes have the ability to cause an extremely irritating itching sensation. The actual rash is not considered to be detrimental to one’s health.
Many times a bed bug rash is mistaken for bites that are caused by insects commonly found in a household. These insects include fleas, lice, ants and mosquitoes. The truth is that the majority of individuals are not aware they have been bitten by bed bugs. Many times, they assume the rash is just a skin allergy.
However, once you are aware of what to look for, a bed bug rash is very easily recognizable.
One of the first signs that indicate a bed bug rash is numerous tiny or raised skin bumps. These bumps will always be in a row or clustered pattern. This is because bed bugs generally feed more than one time at the same location.
Other Signs to Watch Out For
The next sign is that the bites will occur nightly while sleeping and the rashes will increase daily. These rashes will usually be located on the legs, arms, neck, face and back, which are the most common areas for bed bugs to bite. The reason these places are the most common sites for the bed bug to bite is because these areas are usually exposed during the night. Exposed areas of the host are what bed bugs prefer.
For a lot of individuals these tiny red bumps will generally manifest hours or even days after the bed bug actually bit them. These bumps will then begin to itch. If these bumps are scratched, the area may become inflamed because of a severe infection.
The bed bug bites or welts are misdiagnosed by many dermatologists as bites from fleas or even scabies. Only around half of the populace notices the very first bite from a bed bug.
Many reactions to bites are delayed for approximately ten days. People over the age of 65 either react less or are not usually bitten. In one survey, 42% of individuals over 65 years reported no bed bug bites or reactions even though there was an ongoing presence of the bed bugs.
Bed Bug Personality
Bed bugs are very shy and cautious. During the night, they are attracted to the odors and warmth of the closest human being. Believe it or not, a bed bug is able to feed for ten minutes or longer non-stop!
A bed bug will consume as much as six times its body weight in blood. However, usually the individual is unaware that they are being bitten. Once they have completed feeding, they look extremely bloated and have even been characterized as animated blood drops.
Not only can bed bug bites create a rash or welts, they also have the ability to spread disease organisms that bring on digestive and nervous disorders. Bed bugs can also cause an allergic reaction, particularly in more sensitive individuals. The have been known to carry contributory agents for plague, anthrax, tularemia, typhus, relapsing fever and yellow fever.
They have been known to CARRY these diseases; at this point in time, there is NO PROOF that they actually TRANSMIT them. Children residing in homes that are extremely bug-ridden tend to become pale and listless.
How Long Does a Bed Bug Bite Rash Last?
Usually, a bed bug rash will appear several hours after the actual bite has occurred. In some cases, however, the rash may not appear for days. The appearance of the rash is dependent upon the individual’s allergic reaction to the bites. For the most part, the bed bug rash will last just a few days and then begins to fade slowly.
Unfortunately, the bed bug bite rash does have the ability to last a lot longer if the individual has a more intense allergic reaction to the bites. Some individuals will not have any reaction whatsoever, while others who have more sensitivity to allergies may develop rashes that cause extreme itching as they are continuously bitten nightly.
Many times medical attention will be necessary for these individuals to eliminate the rash completely.
How Can a Bed Bug Bite Rash be Treated?
The swelling and redness that is associated with a bed bug bite rash does not clear very easily. However, the itching and discomfort can easily be treated with several remedies including natural remedies and medications.
Oral antihistamines and steroid creams can be used in the treatment of a bed bug rash. These medications will help to ease the itching that is associated with the rash.
It is important to remember not to scratch the bites. Scratching the bites ONLY MAKES THEM ITCH MORE and does have the ability to cause a secondary skin infection.
Names of Medications Used for the Treatment of Bed Bug Bite Rash
Cortaid
There are topical steroid creams that are applied directly to the affected area to eliminate the itching sensation. One of these creams is hydrocortisone. Hydrocortisone is available with or without a prescription. The lower strength creams may be purchased over-the-counter.
However, if the low dose cream does not work, you may need to obtain a prescription from your physician to purchase a stronger dose.
Creams Containing Dephendrydramine & Pramoxine
The optimal creams contain a mixture of pramoxine to assist with the tenderness and pain and diphendrydramine to eliminate the itching associated with the rash.
Creams & Lotions Containing Benzyl Alcohol
Lotions and creams containing benzyl alcohol may also be used to treat both the symptoms of itching and pain. These lotions and creams can be extremely effective in eliminating the itch to resolve the bed bug bite rash rather quickly.
Calamine Lotion
The use of Calamine Lotion will assist in protecting the skin while it heals. It also speeds the drying of the bed bug rash, which facilitates a quicker healing process.
Alka-Seltzer
If the individual is NOT allergic to aspirin, a cotton ball can be dipped into an Alka-Seltzer solution and then rubbed onto the bed bug bite rash to assist in clearing it up quicker.
Prednisone
Oral steroids are also useful in treating the itching of the bed bug rash. One of these steroids is called Prednisone and a prescription must be obtained from a physician to purchase this product. It is not an over-the counter medication.
Benadryl
Oral antihistamines can be very effective in relieving the itching sensation. One of these antihistamines is called Benadryl; however, these medications tend to cause drowsiness.
Therefore, this kind of medication is better used prior to retiring. It is not necessary to obtain a prescription from a doctor to purchase this medication. It is an over-the-counter product available at your local pharmacy.
Zyrtec & Claritin
There are some oral antihistamines that may be taken during the daytime and are not prone to cause drowsiness. A couple of these medications are Claritin and Zyrtec. It is not necessary to obtain a prescription for these medications either. Both are available over-the-counter at your local pharmacy.
Oral Antibiotic or an Antibiotic Ointment
If a bacterial infection occurs on the skin, a health-care provider/physician may prescribe an oral antibiotic or antibiotic ointment to treat the skin infection.
Corticosteroids, Antihistamines or Epinephrine Injections
Should an individual be suffering with a systemic allergic reaction, a physician can administer antihistamines, corticosteroids or epinephrine to the individual. *It is important to note that this condition is extremely rare.
Natural Remedies to Consider
Apply lukewarm water above 120° F or 50° C to the area that has been bitten as soon as possible. This has been known to relieve some of the symptoms.
Just by washing the rash regularly with the use of antibacterial soap helps to keep the bacteria from growing on the rash and causing an infection.
Applying a mixture of baking soda and salt to the affected areas will help to relieve inflammation.
Soaking in a lukewarm bath after adding powdered oatmeal will provide some relief from the itching sensation and reduce inflammation. A paste can be made out of the powdered oatmeal and applied to the areas affected by the bed bug rash.
A paste can be made from water and baking soda. Rub this paste on the area infected with the rash. Let the paste dry and then peel it off. This should help relieve some of the itching.
Lemon juice or Witch Hazel may be applied directly on the bed bug bites.
Home Treatment Suggestion Regimen
Wash the affected area with hot water and soap. Apply anesthetic lotion or cream liberally. To avoid welting and swelling apply ice to the affected areas.
Repeat the regimen every 6 to 8 hours until the symptoms subside.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If unsure what is actually causing the skin lesions, call a health-care provider or a physician.
If any signs that indicate a secondary infection are present, it is time to call the doctor. *Many times this secondary infection is caused by scratching of the bites/rash.
It is rare, but there have been cases of systemic allergic reactions, meaning affecting the body throughout. It is necessary to seek medical attention if this condition occurs.
Following-up with the health-care provider or physician could be necessary following a systemic allergic reaction. The health-care provider or physician may want to monitor your progress especially if a secondary skin infection had developed.
Preparing to See the Health-Care Provider/Physician
Prepare a List
Write down a very detailed description of all your symptoms.
Provide history related to any recent travel, especially international travel. Include information concerning any recent motel or hotel stays.
All the supplements and drugs you have taken including the dosage, frequency and when the last time was that you took these medications or supplements.
The health-care provider or physician will examine the areas that have been bitten.
The Life Cycle of a Bed Bug
Each female bed bug will lay from one to five eggs every day. That means that each female bed bug will lay anywhere from 200 to 500 eggs in her lifetime. These eggs are yellow/white and elongated. They are approximately 1/25” in length and just slightly curved.
Each batch of eggs is fastened on rough surfaces with cement after being laid in clusters. This process occurs several times daily in protected places such as the ceiling, floor crevices and furniture cracks. These are just a few places bed bugs deposit their eggs.
Nearly several hundred could be deposited in a period of just two months. A female bed bug will not continue to lay eggs after 11 days if she does not feed.
When Do the Eggs Hatch?
The eggs will hatch sometime between one to three weeks. The length of time prior to the hatching of the eggs will depend on the temperature where the eggs were deposited. In the warmer weather, the incubation time will be shortened. Once the eggs hatch, the bed bug is now considered to be a nymph.
Nymphs are tiny and have no color upon hatching. They have five nymphal stages. The nymph has to molt or instar five times and feed on a full meal of blood prior to proceeding to the next stage of its metamorphosis. The amount of the host’s blood that is taken at each of these 5 meals is from 2 ½ to 6 times the nymph’s original weight.
The nymphal period can continue for several weeks when the conditions are favorable or up to an entire year when there are no hosts to feed on and the temperatures are low. The nymph looks similar to an adult bed bug, only smaller and pale yellow, straw colored or white prior to feeding.
Color Changes
Once the nymph has fed, it will turn purple or red. A nymph can survive for nearly 2 months without feeding on a host. A nymph is approximately the size of the letter ‘R’ in the word ‘liberty’ that is on a penny.
The nymph will undergo a gradual and simple metamorphosis and eventually become an adult bed bug. Once the bed bug reaches adulthood it will be shiny and brown.
Very soon, after becoming an adult, the bed bugs will mate and the cycle will begin again. The adult bed bugs are about as big as Lincoln’s head on the penny. An adult bed bug does prefer humans as their host.
Where to Look for Bed Bugs
It is important to remember that the bed bug has a very flat body that allows it to hide almost anywhere. During the initial onset of the infestation, bed bugs are only visible around the tufts and seams of the mattress. As the infestation grows, the bed bugs spread out and inhabit larger and larger areas. Bed bugs will generally prefer rough surfaces like wood or paper for their harborages.
Bed bugs can be found in a multitude of places throughout the home. However, they will not usually stray very far from their host; therefore, the bedroom would be a good place to start the search. It is usually the center of the bed bug infestation.
Favorite Hiding Spots
Some of the places bed bugs reside include dark and tight cracks in the home, in mattress seams, under buttons, in holes, inside walls, upholstered furniture ticking and seams, in or on bedside furniture, dressers, electrical outlets, wall boards, window and door frames, behind baseboards and pictures.
They can also hide out in where slats join beds, under wallpaper or borders that are loose, under wall-to-wall carpeting, under tack boards, in bed clothes, hollow bed frames and any place that is dark and isolated is a place that a bed bug would call home. Inspecting the home at night with only a red light will assist in locating the bed bugs.
Smell the suspicious areas; if there is a sweet smell resembling rotting raspberries, this is a sign of bed bugs. This is the smell of the liquid excreted by the bed bug when it is afraid.
Brown or black spots of dried excrement on the bed linens also indicates the presence of bed bugs.
Tips on How to Eliminate Bed Bugs Within the Home
Bed bugs are extremely sensitive to heat in every stage of their life. Thermal death point of a common bed bug is just 111° F to 113° F. Many times even temperatures that are lower than this, 97° F to 99° F can kill multitudes of bed bugs. If the temperature is raised to 140° F for about an hour or to 120° F for several hours most infestations will be eradicated.
If a steam cleaner is used to steam or hair dryer is used to heat the crevices and cracks of the mattress every week, this will assist in keeping the bed bugs away. The mattress can be placed inside a sauna at 170° F weekly to help eliminate any bed bugs.
Low temperatures also kill bed bugs, including the eggs. These temperatures range from 32° F to 48° F and must be maintained for up to 50 days to ensure the eggs have died. The nymphs and adults will die within a few hours. An infested bedroom can be closed off and unheated during the cold weather and the bed bugs will be eradicated.
Vacuuming and Changing Lines
Vacuum all the areas where bed bugs would reside routinely and thoroughly. By vacuuming all the hiding places of the bed bugs daily, the bed bugs and their eggs will be removed along with their shelter-the dirt. ALWAYS be sure to place the vacuum bag into a sealed garbage bag outside.
Do this OUTSIDE of the home and immediately after vacuuming. EVEN IF THE BAG IS NOT FULL-this needs to be done EVERY time the home is vacuumed until the bed bugs have been TOTALLY eliminated from the home.
Change bed linens daily, or in the least weekly. Wash the bedding and the bed with Borax. The bedding should be laundered at the minimum of 120° F. Dry the bedding on high heat as well. Place the pillows and any other non-washable items in the dryer on high heat at least once weekly. Do not allow the bedding to touch the floor at any time.
Other Home Maintenance Tips
Since a bed bug cannot fly and only has the ability to crawl, moving the bed away from the wall would be helpful. To further protect the bed, sprinkle the bed with talcum powder. A vinyl cover placed over the mattress and the box springs will help to eliminate bed bugs. Leave the vinyl covers on for at least a year.
Dust all the cracks, drawers and electrical outlets with talcum powder.Be sure to tighten, caulk and then screen all possible entry routes. Then, lightly dust these areas with Comet® or talcum powder.
Steam clean, vacuum the mattresses, or clean with Borax to remove bed bugs and any bed bug debris remaining.Caulk all the crevices and any cracks and re-glue any wallpaper or borders that are loose or falling down.
Vacuum all drawers and cabinets, this will also deter rodents from nesting in these areas. Consider hiring a pest control company to assist in the elimination of the bed bugs. These creatures are a very annoying and pernicious vermin and with an experienced professional helping, the time necessary to eradicate these pests will be shortened.
Eliminating and Preventing Bed Bugs Outside the Home
Keep all vegetation away from the home’s foundation. This includes shrubs as well as weeds.
Move all woodpiles and debris away from the home.
Eliminate all the rodent pests and garbage outside the home.
