Bed bug bites- what should I do?

Trust K9 know that bed bug bites can be itchy and painful. But firstly, how do you identify a bed bug bite and then, how can you relieve the symptoms?

“Does this look like a bed bug bite?” is one of the most common questions I get asked when I arrive on a job.  The truth is it is not always easy to tell from just looking at the bite marks. Some people can have an extreme reaction where the bite swells up almost immediately and the majority of people actually suffer no visible reaction at all.

The reason for this variance in reactions between person to person is down to the individual’s immune system as it is the body reacting to the anticoagulant and local anaesthetic that the bed bug injects as it bites.

Commonly, bed bugs will bite the extremities of the body, so face, hands, wrists, ankles are all common places.  Bed bugs also tend to leave 3 bites in a row or triangle – sometimes referred to as ‘breakfast lunch and dinner!’

A small minority of people may even experience allergic reactions. If you are concerned about any reactions you should speak to a medical professional.

Another thing that understandably worries people is the long term health risks of bed bug bites and the latest research shows that there is no evidence that bed bug bites spread any disease at all.

So how can I stop the itching?

Aside from the stress that a bed bug infestation can cause, the worst symptom is the itching and discomfort that the bites can cause. Fortunately there are some simple things you can do to ease the discomfort and reduce the appearance of bites:

• Bio-oil or another moisturiser to repair skin and reduce scarring
• Antihistamines to ease allergic reaction (tablets or creams)
• Chamomile lotion can ease the itching when used topically

Always speak to your pharmacist or doctor before using any medication.

If you aren’t sure if you are being bitten by bed bugs, contact Trust K9 for free advice and remember our bed bug dogs will sniff out an infestation if you really aren’t sure if its bed bugs that won’t let you sleep tight!