Dear Doc,
There seemed to be an upswing in bed bugs recently. What are the harmful effects of bed bug bites? I’ve had them and I notice they itch and cause welts where they bite, but this goes away gradually.- Tim Dear Tim,
The increase in individuals having bed bugs I can only speculate as to why. Some possibilities include many people being home, or many individuals in a bed making transmission from one to the other easy. Eliminating bed bugs can be difficult as they can survive prolonged periods without feeding. It requires washing sheets and all bedding in hot water or often changing sheets altogether and sometimes the mattress.
Bed bugs have no long-term effects. Bed bug bites can cause a red rash that may look similar to mosquito bites but tend to be slightly smaller and many more bites. Some individuals who have sensitive skin may have a more severe rash and in very rare instances an individual can have a fever or breathing difficulties. However, as long as the bed bugs are removed the effects of the bites resolve on their own within a week. If the effects persist, medical treatment may be required with pharmacological intervention.
