Are Bed Bugs Dangerous to Your Health?

Bed bugs are a lot of things. They are annoying, they are infuriating, they are nearly impossible to spot, they are difficult to get rid of – the list goes on and on. However, there is one bit of good news when it comes to bed bugs, and that is that they are very rarely dangerous to your health.

No matter what you may have heard in the past, the fact is that bed bugs are not known to spread any type of disease. Years ago, bed bugs were blamed for the spread of up to 40 different human diseases, but thanks to studies in recent years this has been dispelled. There is now very little evidence that they spread any human disease whatsoever. 

Of course, bed bugs still come into your bed while you are sleeping to suck your blood, so they aren’t exactly desired guests. However, you can rest assured that it is highly unlikely they will cause you any physical harm. The most common reaction is to have itching, redness, or swelling at the site of the bite. These symptoms will usually go away within a week if left alone. In rare instances, some people may experience a stronger reaction that may require antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, or anti-itch medications to relieve the symptoms.

The only real risk when it comes to bed bug bites is if the bite happens to become infected. In this case, antibiotics may be needed. There is also the highly unlikely chance that a person may have an allergic reaction to the bite and will require an injection of adrenaline in order to save their life. 

While bed bugs are very rarely dangerous in any way whatsoever, they are still a nuisance that we all hope to avoid. In order to do this, it’s important to keep an eye out for signs of bed bugs, especially when travelling or bringing new items into your home.

Any time you are staying somewhere other than your own home, be sure to do a very thorough check for bed bugs before settling in. Check headboards, mattresses, and the cracks and crevices in nightstands and other furniture near the bed for bed bug activity. These signs may include small blood or feces stains, discarded bed bug shells, or bed bugs themselves. If you happen to spot any of these signs, request to be moved to a new room immediately. When you return home from traveling, inspect your luggage and wash all clothing immediately on the hottest setting.

When you purchase an item from a garage sale, secondhand store, or take in a hand-me-down, be sure to check for bed bug signs once again. It’s likely that you have no idea what type of conditions these items were kept in, so you may be bringing in a bed bug infestation without even knowing it.

Although bed bugs aren’t dangerous, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do everything in your power to prevent an infestation. If you were ill prepared and you now have an infestation in your home, you will probably need to enlist the help of a professional pest control company to help exterminate the issue. Bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of, so sometimes assistance from the pros is necessary.