BED BUGS FACT SHEET
Overview:
Bed bugs (Cimex
lectularius) are small insects that feed on human blood. They are usually
active at night when people are sleeping. Adult bed bugs have flat, rusty
red-colored oval bodies. When they feed, their bodies swell and become brighter
red. About the size of an apple seed, bed bugs are big enough to be easily seen
but often hide in cracks in furniture, floors or walls. They can travel over
100 feet in a night but tend to stay within 8 feet of where people sleep. They
can live for several months without food or water.
Bed bugs are found
around the world, in both developing and developed countries. Bed bugs have
been found in apartments, shelters, rooming houses, buses, trains, dorm rooms,
schools, offices, cruise ships and hotels, including five-star hotels and
resorts. Their presence is not associated with cleanliness or the lack of
cleanliness.
Signs and Symptoms:
Most bed bug bites
are initially painless, but turn into large, itchy skin welts after one to
several days. Bite marks may be random or appear in a straight line.
Bed bug
infestations are usually identified by the tell-tale bite marks on a person’s
body. However, the following signs will also help identify an infestation:
· Bed bugs’ exoskeletons after molting;
· Bed bugs in the fold of mattresses and
sheets;
· Rusty-colored blood spots due to the blood-filled
fecal material they excrete on the mattress or other furniture; and
· A sweet musty odor.
Risk Factors:
Everyone is at
risk for getting bed bugs when visiting an infested area. Those who travel
frequently and share living and sleeping quarters where other people have
previously slept have a higher risk of encountering bed bugs. Bed bugs are
usually transported from place to place as people travel. They 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 stow-away bed bugs as they travel from location to location,
infesting areas as they travel.
Complications:
Although bed bugs
are a nuisance, they are not known to spread disease, and bed bug bites are not
dangerous. However, some people may have an allergic reaction that requires
medical attention. Other people may have excessive scratching that leads to a
secondary skin infection. Some may develop anxiety and/or insomnia.
Treatments:
The best treatment
for a bite is to avoid scratching the area and to apply antiseptic creams or
lotions and take an antihistamine. 2 Bed bug infestations are commonly treated
by insecticide spraying. If you suspect that you have an infestation, contact
your landlord or a professional pest control company that is experienced with
treating bed bugs. Prevention The best way to prevent bed bugs is to avoid
spending time in and bringing belongings into an infested area. When staying in
a new place, check for signs of an infestation immediately upon entry and do
not bring belongings in until you are confident the area is free of bed bugs.
Additional Information:
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html
Environmental
Protection Agency:
This fact sheet
provides general information. Please contact your physician for specific
clinical information.
Obtained from the
Pennsylvania Department of Health at: