Bedbug bites leave characteristic marks on the skin: small red lesions. They cause itching and can lead to allergic reactions.
- Bed bug bites leave red marks on the body, with a red dot in the center.
- They cause severe itching, especially in the morning.
- Some people may develop allergic reactions.
In recent weeks, bed bugs have been in the news. Public transport, public buildings, cinemas: several places are affected by an increase in the presence of this small insect. According to a report from the Covesmore than one in ten households was affected by an infestation in France, between 2017 and 2022. But these figures have been increasing since the 1990s.
Bedbugs: characteristic traces
“Bedbug bites cause skin lesions in the form of raised red spots (maculopapules), 5 mm to 2 cm, with a hemorrhagic red dot or a vesicle of clear liquid in their center.warnsHealth Insurance. “Skin lesions are generally located on parts of the body exposed during the night: arms, legs, back and less frequently head and neck.warns the organization. At the start of an infestation, the bites are grouped together on the skin, in an onion row. Then if the person continues to live in an infested area, the bites spread all over the skin.”
These lesions cause itching, especially in the morning, which in turn can lead to new marks from intensive scratching. Bites can cause red blisters, like when bitten by a mosquito. Some people may develop allergic reactions, causing the stung areas to become painful and turn a bright red color. If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional. Lotions and creams can relieve itching. But bedbug infestation also causes sleep problems and has a “psychological and relational impact”.
What are the other signs of bedbugs?
Health Insurance emphasizes that other signs can suggest the presence of bedbugs in a home. First, the marks left on sheets, mattresses, baseboards and sometimes at the corners of walls: these are small black spots of 1 to 3 mm, which are the droppings of insects. She also specifies that it is possible to find “streaks of blood on the sheets from crushing bedbugs while the person is sleeping“Finally, the infestation will also be visible by the presence of bedbugs, dead or alive, in these same places.”Other hiding places can be searched for: bedroom furniture, clothes, backpack, sleeping bag, suitcase, carpets, curtains, plinths, door and window frames, loose wallpaper“, warns Health Insurance.
How to get rid of bed bugs ?
She warns that you must act quickly in the event of an infestation, because the insects reproduce quickly and can move to other rooms in the home. “To prevent the spread of the infestation, it is very important to remove the bedbugs by mechanical means and not to disperse the pests so as not to make the situation worse.”, she explains. First, bed linen and clothing must be placed in closed bags, then washed at 60°C and dried in a tumble dryer. These textiles must remain in closed bags until the infestation is over. “When possible, put items in the freezer at -20°C for at least 72 hours“, adds theHealth Insurance. Beds, mattresses and other objects should be vacuumed thoroughly and the vacuum cleaner bag thrown away. Steam cleaning at 120°C also helps eliminate insects from furniture and other corners. If this fails, professionals can step in to get rid of the infestation. On its site, the Ministry of Ecology provides a business list qualified and trained.
