One of the most common questions we get is “How do I know if I have bed bugs?” This article will cover some of the ways to decide if bed bugs have invaded your home or office.

 What do bed bugs bites look like?

Symptoms and Signs of Bedbug Bites

The symptoms of a bedbug bite are usually mild when present, and in many cases the person won’t experience any symptoms at all. The bites usually occur on any exposed part of the body, with the face, neck, arms, and hands being the most commonly affected areas. You can start seeing signs and symptoms within minutes or even many days after the initial bite.

When bed bugs bite, they inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that prevents a person from feeling the initial bite. Most people don’t know that they have been bitten until bite marks appear.  The easiest way to describe a bed bug bite is that it is similar to that of a mosquito or a flea.  Usually affected individuals will complain of localized itching and reddish-colored skin lesions, which may look like a flat welt or a raised bump. Sometimes, the bites can be found in clusters or in a linear pattern of threes or fours. Typically, these skin lesions will go away after one to two weeks.

If you are exposed to bed bug bites regularly or repeatedly over time there may be more pronounced symptoms. Some people develop scarring or a skin infection from intense scratching. Rarely, a more severe systemic allergic reaction to a bedbug bite may develop. Other side effects of bed bug bites may include insomnia and anxiety from serious or repeated bedbug infestations.

Can bed bugs transfer or spread diseases?

According to the CDC (United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) bed bugs are not known to spread diseases.  Although it is plausible that bed bugs could spread diseases similar to the way that body lice do, bed bugs have never been shown to do so in scientific studies.

If bed bug bites are so similar to other bug bites – How can I be sure I have bed bugs?

The best way to be sure you are being bitten by bed bugs is to do a quick surveillance of the room.

Look in these common areas to find if bed bugs are living in your room:

• Under the fitted sheets
• Along the edges of mattress piping
• Remove the mattress and continue inspection of the box spring paying close attention to the four corners under the plastic corner guards and the on the underside  of the box spring where the dust cover is stapled into the frame.
• Around the legs and resting areas of the headboard
• Check the underside of the bed frame, paying close attention to any holes or joints in the wood frame
• Bed bugs don’t just live in beds. Don’t forget to check other furniture in the room, including: your bed side table, pillows, curtains, behind picture frames and mirrors, and under rugs and loose carpets

Look for these signs that bed bugs are present:

• Live Bed Bugs: Look for live bed bugs in any stage of development. (You may not always find a live bed bug).
  • Fecal (Poop) Stains: Appear to be minute “ink dots”, (like from a black marker pen), can be found anywhere and is often mistaken for mold.
  • Cast Skins: These are when the bed bug grows out of its skin and leaves the old one behind.
  • Blood Stains: These spots may look like rusty spots on bedclothes, sheets, furniture and walls.

I’ve got bed bugs…Now what?

Finding bed bugs in your home or business can be an unsettling realization. If you believe that you have bed bugs the best step to take is to call in the professionals like Azex Pest Solutions.  If bed bugs are present in your home or business AZEX will eliminate the problem for you in the quickest and safest manner possible.  With the revolutionary AZEX Heat process, AZEX will leave your home or business pest free and improve air quality in the environmentally friendly process.  AZEX also offers K-9 Inspections to be sure that all bed bugs and bed bug eggs have been eradicated.  For more information and to schedule a free inspection, call AZEX Pest Solutions today at 877-445-2847.

Sources:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bedbugs/article_em.htm http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html