Bed Bugs
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
- Bed bugs facts
- What are bed bugs? What do bed bugs look like?
- Where are bed bugs found?
- What about bed bugs in hotels?
- How are bed bugs spread?
- What are the symptoms and signs of bed bug bites?
- What is the treatment for bed bug bites?
- How do I detect a bed bug infestation in my home?
- How do I get rid of bed bugs in the home?
- What about prevention of bed bug bites?
- Bed Bugs Quiz: What's Your IQ?
- Bed Bugs - Slideshow
- Gallery of Skin Problems and Images Collection
- Bed Bugs FAQs
- Patient Comments: Bed Bugs - Initial Symptoms
- Patient Comments: Bed Bugs - In Hotels
- Patient Comments: Bed Bugs - Prevention
- Patient Comments: Bed Bugs - Treatments
- Find a local Dermatologist in your town
Bed bugs facts
- Bed bugs are small, oval non-flying insects that feed by sucking blood from humans or animals.
- Bed bugs can live in any area of the home and can reside in tiny cracks in furniture as well as on textiles and upholstered furniture. They tend to be most common in areas where people sleep and generally concentrate in beds, including mattresses, boxsprings, and bed frames.
- Bed bugs are most active at night and bite any exposed areas of skin while an individual is sleeping. The face, neck, hands, and arms are common sites for bedbug bites.
- A bed bug bite is painless and is not noticed. Small, flat, or raised bumps on the skin are the most common sign; redness, swelling, and itching commonly occur.
- Typically, no treatment is required for bed bug bites. If itching is severe, steroid creams or oral antihistamines may be used for symptom relief.
- Fecal stains, egg cases, and exuviae (shed skins) of bed bugs in crevices and cracks on or near beds are suggestive that bed bugs may be present, but only observing the bugs themselves can confirm an active infestation.
- A professional pest-control company may be required to help identify and remove bedbugs from the home.
What are bed bugs? What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are small, oval non-flying insects that belong to the insect family Cimicidae, which includes three species that bite people. Adult bed bugs reach 5 mm-7 mm in length, while nymphs (juveniles) are as small as 1.5 mm. Bed bugs have flat bodies and may sometimes be mistaken for ticks or small cockroaches. Bed bugs feed by sucking blood from humans or animals. Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color, appearing more reddish after feeding on a blood meal. Nymphs are clear in color and appear bright red after feeding. The wings of bed bugs are vestigial, so they cannot fly. However, they are able to crawl rapidly. Temperatures between 70 F-80 F are most favorable for bed bugs, allowing them to develop into adults most rapidly and produce up to three generations per year.
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