Bed Bug Bites – What To Look For Part 1 Of 2

NJ Pest Control experts report that although bed bug complaints are slightly down in the New York City area, bed bug infestation sightings still remain high in New Jersey as well as other parts of the United States.   Despite the widespread information that has been broadcast in the media, in print, and on the internet, many people are often surprised to hear the news that bed bugs are the reason that they are awakening with red itchy bite marks each morning.

Diagnosing bed bug bites can be a difficult task for those in the medical community for a variety of reasons…

Bed bug bites are fairly new on the horizon so many doctors have not seen the bite wounds and often misdiagnose them for another type of pest bite wound, an allergic reaction, or other medical condition such as scabies.

Bed bug bites do not affect all people the same, which is why diagnosing bed bug bites can be a difficult task.  If a reaction is encountered, it is to the bed bugs saliva.  Some people have a small reaction which may look similar to a mosquito bite wound, others may have a large reaction in which a bite mark may be the size of a softball and oozing with fluid, while some people may not have any reaction at all.

It is estimated at approximately 50% of people do not have a reaction to the bed bug saliva.  Reactions could take as long as 10 days to occur which allows for people to encounter many other things/situations that they could be allergic to.  NJ Pest Control experts say that the more times that a person is bitten by a bed bug, the less lag time there will be between the biting and the time that the symptoms begin to show up.

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.