Bedbugs are tiny, wingless insects whose bites are usually painless but can cause itchy skin reactions.
Parasites are organisms that live on or inside another organism (the host) and depend on the host for nutrition to live. Bedbugs are parasites because they live by sucking the blood of humans and some other animals. The most common bedbugs affecting humans are Cimex lectularis (in climates that are mild or moderate in temperature) and Cimex hemipterus (mainly in climates that are tropical). Bedbugs are reddish brown in color and have no wings. They range in size from 1/25 to more than a 1/4 inch (1 to 7 millimeters). They can live for several months without feeding on blood.
Bedbug infestations have become more common throughout the world. Bedbugs are flat and hide in the cracks and crevices of mattresses and in other structures such as bed frames, cushions, and walls. People may see bedbug feces or blood on bed linens or behind wallpaper. In other regions, they hide in structures such as mud houses and thatched roofs.
Image courtesy of CDC/DPDx.
Image courtesy of the Public Health Image Library of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bedbugs move slowly, but they multiply rapidly. A few bedbugs multiply to thousands within 2 to 3 months. They are attracted from their hiding places by the body heat and carbon dioxide that people produce. They bite any area of exposed skin, usually when people are sleeping. Before feeding, bedbugs are flat and reddish brown. After a blood meal, they are less flat and more red. A feeding is completed in 5 to 10 minutes, after which the bedbugs return to their hiding places. Bedbugs are not known to transmit infections to people.
Symptoms of Bedbug Infestation
Bite marks appear on the skin sometime between a few hours to 10 days after being bitten. They may look like any of the following:
Tiny holes only
Purplish flat spots
Red spots, solid raised bumps, or hives (wheals) that are often itchy and have a tiny hole in the center
Blisters
The bites are painless but can become itchy in some people. They may appear in line-like patterns or may be seen in clusters. Older adults develop symptoms less often than younger people. The bite marks go away after about 1 week. If people scratch the bites, they may develop an infection.
People may be anxious about the difficulty and expense of getting rid of a bedbug infestation. They may also experience emotional distress because they may no longer be invited to others' homes or may be shunned by family and friends, or they may isolate themselves to avoid spreading the bugs.
Diagnosis of Bedbug Infestation
A doctor's evaluation
Doctors base the diagnosis on the appearance of the bite marks, but diagnosis may be difficult because the appearance can vary. However, most bedbug bites are larger than other bites (such as flea bites).
To confirm the diagnosis, doctors may try to identify the bedbug.
Treatment of Bedbug Infestation
Treatment of symptoms
Extermination of bedbugs and prevention of infestations
Doctors give creams that contain corticosteroids, antihistamines taken by mouth, or both to relieve the itching and other symptoms caused by the bites.
Bedbugs should be exterminated using physical and, usually, chemical methods. Physical methods include vacuuming infested areas and washing articles of clothing or bed linens, then drying them on the dryer's hottest setting. In addition, entire rooms should be treated by professional exterminators when possible. Professionals may heat the room to a temperature above or equal to 122° F (50° C) or may use multiple insecticides. Bedbugs and eggs on infested items are killed when frozen at -4° F (-20° C) for at least 2 hours. However, placing the items in most home kitchen freezers is typically insufficient because these freezers are not cold enough.
Prevention
Prevention methods include the use of simplified furniture (for example, metal beds) and the sealing up of cracks and crevices. New sleeping areas (for example, hotel rooms) should be inspected prior to use, with particular attention to the mattress and bedding.
