Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon SymptomsRare SymptomsSigns of InfestationFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Bedbug Bites GuideHow Bedbugs Are Diagnosed

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Common Symptoms

Rare Symptoms

Signs of Infestation

Frequently Asked Questions

Next in Bedbug Bites Guide

Bedbug bites cause itchy, red wheals on the body, and rarely cause serious issues, such as allergies or anemia. A bedbug bite looks similar to other bug bites—there’s little that differentiates the actual bite mark. Bedbug bites can be mistaken for skin rashes or bites from other bugs.

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bedbug bites symptoms

Bedbug bites typically cause itchy wheals on the skin, usually with a pinkish or red appearance. Bedbugs are a species of insect known ascimex lectularius(cimexis Latin for bug andlectulois Latin for bed). There is a second common species of bedbugs known ascimex hemiptera. These are known as the tropical bedbugs, largely staying within 30 degrees of the equator.

1:35Click Play to Learn All About the Signs of Bedbug Bites

1:35

Click Play to Learn All About the Signs of Bedbug Bites

Itching

Bedbugs have needle-like mouthparts that pierce the skin and allow the bedbugs to feast on blood. To facilitate eating, they secrete saliva that has anticoagulant (blood-thinning) properties. For some people, this saliva might cause reactions, including itching.

Scratching can make the itching worse.

Small, Red Lesions

Bedbug bites are small, red wheals (swollen marks on the skin) that usually grow to no more than 5 millimeters (mm) wide. The lesions start off as red areas that become raised and then may develop into blisters.

Often, bedbug bites are clustered along lines, usually following arms and legs.

Bedbug bites often appear in a straight line or row. Theories for this pattern include the idea that bedbugs feed along blood vessels or that they feed only along lines where the skin is touching the bedding.

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoJoel Carillet / Getty Images

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.

Bed bug bites

There can be a tiny amount of bleeding from the center of a bedbug bite after the bug is done eating. The bleeding is self-limiting and will show up on sheets as flecks of blood.

Large bedbug bite clusters can cover significant portions of the body and can look like chickenpox. If the clusters of bites are close enough together, the bites can become confluent, appearing to be one large rash. People who have chronic, large clusters of bedbug bites can develop anemia, which can cause fatigue.

Some people develop blisters, especially on the arms and legs.

Bedbug bites can rarely cause a severe allergic reaction.

Bedbug bites can easily be confused with a rash.For this reason, finding signs of an infestation is an important part of confirming a diagnosis.

Bedbugs tend to infest folds of cushions and upholstery on furniture and in mattresses.

Bedbugs can show up pretty much anywhere and are likely to be on other soft furniture in rooms where an infestation can be found on one bed or chair.

Bedbug biteslook like small, raised red bumps that may form blisters. They tend to be difficult to distinguish from other bug bites, such as those from mosquitoes, fleas, or spiders. Bedbug bites often appear in a straight line or small cluster on the limbs, thanks to the bugs' feeding patterns.Learn MoreBedbug Bites vs. Fleabites

Bedbug biteslook like small, raised red bumps that may form blisters. They tend to be difficult to distinguish from other bug bites, such as those from mosquitoes, fleas, or spiders. Bedbug bites often appear in a straight line or small cluster on the limbs, thanks to the bugs' feeding patterns.

Learn MoreBedbug Bites vs. Fleabites

Yes, bedbug bites are usually itchy as a result of the bugs' saliva, which can cause a histamine response. Histamine reactions may vary, with some adults and children having a more severe reaction and others having a very limited reaction or none at all. An infection can develop if you scratch the bites. Otherwise, they typicallygo away on their own.

Aside from small red, itchy bites, bedbug bites may cause the following symptoms:

In more severe cases, bedbug bites may result in:

How Bedbugs Are Diagnosed

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Doggett SL, Dwyer DE, Peñas PF, Russell RC.Bed bugs: Clinical relevance and control options.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012;25(1):164-92.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bedbugs: Diagnosis and treatment.Studdiford JS, Conniff KM, Trayes KP, Tully AS.Bedbug infestation.Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(7):653-8.Additional ReadingPuckett, R., McDonald, D., & Gold, R. (2013).Comparison of multiple steam treatment durations for control of bed bugs (Cimex lectulariusL.).Pest Management Science,69(9), 1061-1065. doi: 10.1002/ps.3467Criado, P., Junior, W., Criado, R., e Silva, R., & Vasconcellos, C. (2011).Bedbugs (Cimicidae infestation): the worldwide renaissance of an old partner of human kind.The Brazilian Journal Of Infectious Diseases,15(1), 74-80. doi:10.1016/s1413-8670(11)70144-1

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Doggett SL, Dwyer DE, Peñas PF, Russell RC.Bed bugs: Clinical relevance and control options.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012;25(1):164-92.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bedbugs: Diagnosis and treatment.Studdiford JS, Conniff KM, Trayes KP, Tully AS.Bedbug infestation.Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(7):653-8.Additional ReadingPuckett, R., McDonald, D., & Gold, R. (2013).Comparison of multiple steam treatment durations for control of bed bugs (Cimex lectulariusL.).Pest Management Science,69(9), 1061-1065. doi: 10.1002/ps.3467Criado, P., Junior, W., Criado, R., e Silva, R., & Vasconcellos, C. (2011).Bedbugs (Cimicidae infestation): the worldwide renaissance of an old partner of human kind.The Brazilian Journal Of Infectious Diseases,15(1), 74-80. doi:10.1016/s1413-8670(11)70144-1

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Doggett SL, Dwyer DE, Peñas PF, Russell RC.Bed bugs: Clinical relevance and control options.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012;25(1):164-92.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bedbugs: Diagnosis and treatment.Studdiford JS, Conniff KM, Trayes KP, Tully AS.Bedbug infestation.Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(7):653-8.

Doggett SL, Dwyer DE, Peñas PF, Russell RC.Bed bugs: Clinical relevance and control options.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2012;25(1):164-92.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bedbugs: Diagnosis and treatment.

Studdiford JS, Conniff KM, Trayes KP, Tully AS.Bedbug infestation.Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(7):653-8.

Puckett, R., McDonald, D., & Gold, R. (2013).Comparison of multiple steam treatment durations for control of bed bugs (Cimex lectulariusL.).Pest Management Science,69(9), 1061-1065. doi: 10.1002/ps.3467Criado, P., Junior, W., Criado, R., e Silva, R., & Vasconcellos, C. (2011).Bedbugs (Cimicidae infestation): the worldwide renaissance of an old partner of human kind.The Brazilian Journal Of Infectious Diseases,15(1), 74-80. doi:10.1016/s1413-8670(11)70144-1

Puckett, R., McDonald, D., & Gold, R. (2013).Comparison of multiple steam treatment durations for control of bed bugs (Cimex lectulariusL.).Pest Management Science,69(9), 1061-1065. doi: 10.1002/ps.3467

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