Bug bites are common and can come from bedbugs, mosquitoes, ticks, spiders, and other creatures. Many bites require nothing more than wound care at home, but others require medical attention.
Insect bites often cause an inflamed lump or spot on the skin, which may itch or change color. In lighter skin, many bug bites cause redness. In darker skin, they may cause the skin to turn purple or dark brown.
Correctly identifying the type of bug bite someone has is important for knowing how to treat it, particularly if they develop systemic symptoms after receiving the bite. These are symptoms that affect the whole body, such as a fever.
This article discusses how to identify bug bites, including those caused by bedbugs, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and spiders. It also explains when to seek medical help for a bite.
The human bedbug is a type of insect that relies entirely on human blood to survive. They are flat, oval-shaped insects around 36 millimeters (mm) long, with a red or brown color. They often live in mattresses but can also live in cushions, bed frames, and crevices in floors and walls.
Bites from bedbugs usually appear on someones face, neck, hands, or arms. The symptoms include small, raised bumps that occur in clusters or straight lines. The bites will be itchy but not painful.
If there are bedbugs in the home, the symptoms of the bites may take as long as 14 days to develop. Other signs of a bedbug population in the home include:
Although bedbugs do not spread disease, there is a risk as an individual may have an allergic reaction to the bites or get a secondary infection.
The treatment for bedbug bites aims to reduce itchiness. A doctor may recommend a topical steroid cream and oral antihistamines. If a secondary infection develops, this may require treatment with antibiotics.
The only way to entirely rid the home of bedbugs is to use insecticides. These chemicals are toxic, and so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends contacting the propertys landlord or a professional pest control company to ensure safe removal.
Learn more about bedbug bites.
Mosquitoes are small flying insects that feed on blood. They have delicate wings, legs, and special feeding apparatus that allows them to bite into the skin. As a mosquito feeds, its saliva enters the skin. It is this that causes an itchy, swollen bump.
The symptoms of a mosquito bite can vary. The bite may present as:
In people who have more severe reactions to mosquito bites, the symptoms may include:
Treatment for mosquito bites aims to ease symptoms. People may benefit from applying ice packs, topical corticosteroids, and oral antihistamines.
Some mosquitoes can spread serious diseases. The risk for these depends on the species of mosquito and the geographical region where the bite occurs. Mosquitoes can transmit:
If a person develops any symptoms in addition to the bite, such as a fever, chills, headaches, or vomiting, they should speak with a doctor as soon as possible.
Learn about some home remedies to ease the symptoms of mosquito bites.
Ticks are arachnids that have eight legs and a pair of claws. They may have a hard or soft body and are usually flat before they feed, becoming rounder afterward.
Tick bites are often painless and do not always produce any symptoms. However, they can latch onto the skin and stay there for hours or days. As a result, the easiest way to identify a tick bite is to find the tick itself if it is still on the skin.
If the tick is no longer on the skin, there may be no signs of a bite. Some people may experience:
Some ticks can also spread diseases, which may cause symptoms if a person contracts them. Examples of tick-borne diseases include:
If a tick bite transmits Lyme disease or RMSF, a person may develop a distinctive rash. In Lyme disease, the rash can resemble a bullseye with the tick bite at the center. Around 7080% of people who get Lyme disease will have this rash.
In RMSF, the rash resembles pinpoint dots or splotches, but the appearance can vary widely over the course of the disease.
Treatment for tick bites depends on whether the tick is still attached to the skin. If it is, people should carefully remove the tick with tweezers, grasping them as close to the skin as possible and smoothly pulling upwards.
Removing a tick within 24 hours of the bite may reduce the chance of any disease transmission. Usually, it takes 3648 hours before a tick transmits the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
After the tick is out of the skin, dispose of it by placing it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping securely in sticky tape, or flushing down a toilet. Do not try to squash the tick between the fingers.
An uncomplicated bite only requires routine wound care. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water, and monitor for signs of infection. A person may require topical steroids or antihistamines for severe itching.
If someone develops any other symptoms, they should speak with a doctor as soon as possible, mentioning that they recently had a tick bite.
If a person regularly visits areas with a high number of ticks, they should take precautions to prevent bites. Cover exposed skin wherever possible, and check the skin thoroughly for ticks before reentering the home.
Learn more about Lyme disease prevention.
Fleas are tiny insects that measure up to 4 mm long and are reddish in color. They prefer to feed on the blood of mammals and birds but may bite humans too. The bites they cause may appear as several small red bumps or blisters and can be intensely itchy.
In cases of severe itching, scratching can break the skin, allowing a secondary bacterial infection to develop. This may cause swelling, warmth, or pus to leak from the bite.
Rarely, flea bites can transmit serious diseases, including tularemia, endemic typhus, and bubonic plague.
Treatment for flea bites focuses on reducing itching until the bites heal. A doctor may suggest calamine lotion, steroid cream, or oral antihistamines.
Learn more about flea bites.
Spiders are carnivorous arachnids. Unlike ticks, to which they are related, spiders do not feed on the blood of animals or humans. Instead, they eat insects.
Many spider species have a venomous bite or sting that immobilizes their prey. If a spider is threatened or disturbed by a human, it may bite or sting them. The symptoms and severity of the bite vary widely depending on the species of spider.
Potential symptoms of a spider bite include:
In North America, the two spiders with the greatest potential to cause harm are the black widow and brown recluse spiders.
Although brown recluse spider venom is potentially very dangerous, most bites cause minimal symptoms. Some may develop an area of pale or blue discoloration around the bite. A more severe complication is necrosis or tissue death.
Black widow venom does not cause necrosis, and often, the bites cause no severe reactions. If it does, a person may have severe muscle spasms and pain in the chest, lower back, and abdomen. Other symptoms include:
Severe symptoms typically happen up to 6 hours following the bites and may last up to 2 days.
Most spider bites do not cause significant symptoms. Often, people can reduce any pain at home by applying ice to the area and taking acetaminophen. In some cases, people may require a tetanus shot if they have not had one recently.
However, if someone is concerned that the spider that bit them may be dangerous, they may wish to consult a doctor.
The biggest challenge in treating spider bites is identifying the type of spider that caused it. If a person sees the spider, they should try to remember the shape, size, color, and any markings on the spiders body. This may help a doctor diagnose and treat the bite.
People should seek immediate medical attention if they develop severe or systemic symptoms after a spider bite.
Learn more about identifying and treating spider bites.
Most insect bites are minor and do not require medical attention. However, it is important to seek immediate help if the following occur:
These symptoms can indicate anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction that can be life threatening.
Other symptoms that a person should speak with a doctor about include:
Bug bites may look different depending on the creature that caused them, as well as a persons skin tone, the location of the bite, and other factors.
Bedbugs and fleas typically cause small, itchy bumps to appear on the skin, whereas tick bites sometimes cause no symptoms at all. Mosquito bites tend to look puffy and raised after they first appear, while spider bites may have noticeable puncture marks.
However, it is always best to consult a doctor for a diagnosis if a person has any concerns about a bite, as they can vary in appearance and severity.
See the article here:
Identifying bug bites: Bed bugs, ticks, and more - Medical News Today
- Bed Bug Inspection Dog in Ontario, Canada - March 14th, 2011 [March 14th, 2011]
- Tracker The Bed Bug Dog In Action - March 31st, 2011 [March 31st, 2011]
- Fighting Bed Bugs in Canada with ThermaPure CTV News - August 2010 - April 3rd, 2011 [April 3rd, 2011]
- Treating a bed frame for bedbugs using Diatomaceous Powder - April 4th, 2011 [April 4th, 2011]
- When the bed bug bites-One Woman's Story - April 12th, 2011 [April 12th, 2011]
- "Mel, Niagara, Tongue and Bed Bugs" Mattoliver's photos around Toronto, Canada - April 15th, 2011 [April 15th, 2011]
- Bed Bug gets owned - May 20th, 2011 [May 20th, 2011]
- The Bed Bug Epidemic - May 24th, 2011 [May 24th, 2011]
- Bed Bug Heat Treatment - May 30th, 2011 [May 30th, 2011]
- Bed bugs invading Winnipeg in public places - May 31st, 2011 [May 31st, 2011]
- Tracker The Bed Bug Dog on Breakfast Television - June 3rd, 2011 [June 3rd, 2011]
- Why ThermaPureHeat is the #1 most effective way to kill bed bugs and their eggs. - June 9th, 2011 [June 9th, 2011]
- Hospital Turns Patient Away Due to Bed Bug Bites [ABC: 5-28-2011] - June 10th, 2011 [June 10th, 2011]
- Bed Bugs 8.1 Kanas Earthquake Dream Mega Tornado Sickness Earthquakes. and More - June 12th, 2011 [June 12th, 2011]
- Bed bug thermal heat treatment | How to get rid of Bed bugs using heat thermal remediation.mov - June 22nd, 2011 [June 22nd, 2011]
- Where do Bed Bugs live and How to Get Rid of Them - June 23rd, 2011 [June 23rd, 2011]
- How To Stop Bedbugs - June 24th, 2011 [June 24th, 2011]
- Bed Bugs in the NWT - June 25th, 2011 [June 25th, 2011]
- Chase our Bed Bug Dog training - July 15th, 2011 [July 15th, 2011]
- Latex Mattresses for NYC, LA, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia and more! - July 20th, 2011 [July 20th, 2011]
- Cryonite Science Behind Freezing.mp4 - July 28th, 2011 [July 28th, 2011]
- Research shows bedbugs can carry superbug MRSA - August 11th, 2011 [August 11th, 2011]
- 128. Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite! - September 4th, 2011 [September 4th, 2011]
- Bed Bug Awareness - September 10th, 2011 [September 10th, 2011]
- Bedbug Lillie 4 Chatham, Ontario - September 30th, 2011 [September 30th, 2011]
- Bed bug inspection Hollywood, Bed Bug exterminator Koreatown, exterminator koreatown, 213-928-7721 - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- LA Pest Control - Mice, Roach, Rat, Bed Bug Removal 213-928-7849 - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- Treating a Baseboard with DE to Prevent Bedbugs - October 5th, 2011 [October 5th, 2011]
- Bedbugs Prevention - Reduce Your Clutter! - October 10th, 2011 [October 10th, 2011]
- HOW TO STOP BEDBUGS CLIMBING INTO YOUR BED - Video - October 14th, 2011 [October 14th, 2011]
- VTS_01_1.VOB - Video - October 14th, 2011 [October 14th, 2011]
- BEDBUGS AND BEDTIME - STOP THE AFFAIR - Video - October 14th, 2011 [October 14th, 2011]
- BED BUGS, PUNAISES DE LITS - Video - October 14th, 2011 [October 14th, 2011]
- BEDBUGS - BED BUGS - Cimex lectularius - Video - October 16th, 2011 [October 16th, 2011]
- Bed Bug Thermal Treatment Private Home by A3 Superior Pest Control - Video - October 17th, 2011 [October 17th, 2011]
- BED BUG DOG - Inspections - Video - October 17th, 2011 [October 17th, 2011]
- Bedbugs - Video - October 21st, 2011 [October 21st, 2011]
- bed bug : improvise mortar and pestle to crush silica gel cat litter, food, makeup - Video - October 22nd, 2011 [October 22nd, 2011]
- Bed bug inspection 213-928-7721, santa monica, west side, Bed bug exterminator - Video - October 24th, 2011 [October 24th, 2011]
- Bed Bugs - Key Facts and Information - Orkin PCO Canada - Video - October 26th, 2011 [October 26th, 2011]
- How to do a bed bug room inspection - Orkin PCO Canada - Video - October 26th, 2011 [October 26th, 2011]
- bed bug exterminator Pasadea - CALL 213-928-7721 bedbugs, roaches + more - Video - October 26th, 2011 [October 26th, 2011]
- fruit fly trap difficult problem simple solution comedy bedbug bed bug powder SNL bulldog lipstick - Video - October 29th, 2011 [October 29th, 2011]
- Treating a Cable Outlet to Prevent Bedbugs - Video - November 23rd, 2011 [November 23rd, 2011]
- BATCH of bed bugs and PUBES on my face! - Video - November 23rd, 2011 [November 23rd, 2011]
- WHERE BEDBUGS COME FROM - PLUG IN - Video - November 25th, 2011 [November 25th, 2011]
- HOW TO KEEP BEDBUGS AWAY FROM YOUR HOME - Video - November 25th, 2011 [November 25th, 2011]
- HOW TO STOP BEDBUGS COMING THRU YOUR WALLS - Video - November 25th, 2011 [November 25th, 2011]
- All About Bed Bugs with "At Home" - Video - November 26th, 2011 [November 26th, 2011]
- Prevent Bedbugs by Applying Diatomaceous Powder - Video - November 27th, 2011 [November 27th, 2011]
- Bed bugs Part 2: Identifying and inspecting for bed bugs - Video - December 7th, 2011 [December 7th, 2011]
- Vancouver bed bug heat treatment - Video - December 9th, 2011 [December 9th, 2011]
- bed bugs inspections long beach 213-9287721, rossmoor, seal beach, lakewood - Video - December 12th, 2011 [December 12th, 2011]
- EucoClean 3in1 vs Bed Bugs Laboratory Test (Every Hotel in the World take note!) - Video - December 14th, 2011 [December 14th, 2011]
- When Bedbugs Attack! - Video - December 15th, 2011 [December 15th, 2011]
- Don't matter - it proves evolution. This is Genesis Week, Season 1, Episode 1 - Video - January 6th, 2012 [January 6th, 2012]
- Toronto woman recounts vacation nightmare in Cuba - February 2nd, 2012 [February 2nd, 2012]
- Iqaluit bed bug problem began months ago, says government - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- bed bug exterminator, westchester, LAX - CALL 213-928-7721 bedbugs, roaches, ants - Video - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- Craig Ferguson 10/6/11E Late Late Show Dan Riskin - Video - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- MEGA Babies "Don't let the Bed Bugs Bite" Pt 1 of 2 - Video - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- Toronto council debates OMB, affordable housing funding & other issues - February 8th, 2012 [February 8th, 2012]
- Bed Bug Proof Laundry Bag - www.CorporateTravelSafety.com. - Video - February 8th, 2012 [February 8th, 2012]
- Live: 2012 Academy Awards - February 27th, 2012 [February 27th, 2012]
- The 2012 Academy Awards - February 27th, 2012 [February 27th, 2012]
- And the winners are ... - February 28th, 2012 [February 28th, 2012]
- 2012 Academy Awards - February 28th, 2012 [February 28th, 2012]
- All Oscars accounted for - February 28th, 2012 [February 28th, 2012]
- Top Entomologists Call 2012 Pivotal Year in Bed Bug War - February 29th, 2012 [February 29th, 2012]
- According to Rest Assured MC, Freezing Bed Bugs with Cryonite will Become One of the Most Popular Methods for Killing ... - March 1st, 2012 [March 1st, 2012]
- Allergy Technologies Signs Exclusive Agreement with Hospi-Tel to Distribute ActiveGuard™ Mattress Liners to the ... - March 12th, 2012 [March 12th, 2012]
- Nodding approval for a new mattress - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- New Dundee entrepreneurs tackle bed bug problem - May 30th, 2012 [May 30th, 2012]
- Entomologists to discuss insect issues at annual meeting - May 31st, 2012 [May 31st, 2012]
- Here's Why Renting Your Home Through Airbnb Could Be Illegal - June 7th, 2012 [June 7th, 2012]
- Bed bugs attack jurors - June 10th, 2012 [June 10th, 2012]
- Huntsville, Ala., offers look at rocket science, history, gardens and more - June 17th, 2012 [June 17th, 2012]
- Spring Air Partners with Protect-A-Bed to Redefine the Sleeping Experience - June 28th, 2012 [June 28th, 2012]
- Organic Plant Health, Inc., (OTCQB: OPHI), Introduces New and Improved Eco-Cedar™ All-Natural Bed Bug Killer. - July 6th, 2012 [July 6th, 2012]
- Bedbug-detection dog sniffs out critters at Central Library - July 20th, 2012 [July 20th, 2012]