Bedbugs
Medical Author:
Steven Doerr, MD
Steven Doerr, MDSteven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Treatment of Bedbug BitesSelf-Care at HomeBedbug bites usually do not require any treatment. If you develop itching of the skin around the site of the bite, you can use an over-the-counter antihistamine pill or cream such as diphenhydramine(Benadryl). Try to avoid scratching your skin, as this can cause skin breakdown and a subsequent skin infection. Some individuals may also experience relief from the itching by applying a hot washcloth directly to the affected area. Bedbugs OverviewA bedbug is a small, blood-sucking parasite that feeds on mammals and birds. Bedbugs belong to the insect family Cimicidae, and although there are several different species, the most common species associated with human infestations are Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus. There has been a recent resurgence in bedbug infestations worldwide, particularly in developed countries, including the United States. Adult bedbugs are reddish brown in color, flat, oval-shaped, and approximately 4-5 millimeters in length. Immature bedbugs (nymphs) may be translucent or light tan in color. Bedbugs are often more red in color after feeding. Bedbugs are attracted by warmth, and they generally feed during the night, often just before dawn. They tend to feed every five to 10 days, though they can survive without feeding for several months. Bedbugs pierce the skin and inject saliva which contains anesthetics and anticoagulants into the host which often make their bites painless initially. After feeding on the host's blood for several minutes, bedbugs will retreat to their hiding place. They will generally try to remain within close range of their warm-blooded host. Affected individuals may feel and see the consequences of the bedbug bite sometime afterward. Though bedbug transmission of human diseases is theoretically possible, it has not yet been definitively established.
Viewer Comments & ReviewsBed Bugs - Initial SymptomsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What were your initial symptoms for bed bugs? Bedbugs - TreatmentThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What treatment did you use to get rid of bedbugs? |
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An allergic reaction is the body's way of responding to an "invader." When the body senses a foreign substance, called an antigen, the immune system is triggered. The immune system normally protects the body from harmful agents such as bacteria and toxins. Its overreaction to a harmless substance (an allergen) is called a hypersensitivity reaction, or an allergic reaction.
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