What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on the blood of some mammals, including humans.

Adult bed bugs are an oval-shape and can grow up to 6mm long. Young bed bugs are cream in colour. They become red to black after feeding on blood. The eggs are also cream in colour and about 1mm in length.

There are 2 species of bed bugs that feed mainly on humans:

1. Cimex lectularius — the common bed bug
2. Cimex hemipterus — the tropical bed bug

These bed bugs prefer to feed on blood from humans but will also feed on other warm-blooded animals. They mainly feed at night but will come out during the day if they're hungry. Bed bug infestations happen in places where you sleep.

Bed bugs tend to live in cracks and crevices. They are most often found in mattress seams. They can also be found:

• on bed frames
• in bedside tables
• in picture frames
• behind wallpaper
• under carpet edges
• behind skirting boards

Bed bugs feed every 5 to 10 days, but they can survive many months without a blood feed.

Bed bugs are not known to spread disease. But they can be annoying and cause you to lose sleep due to itching. They can also be hard to get rid of.

What symptoms are related to bed bugs?

Signs of a bed bug infestation include:

• spots of blood on your sheets, mattress or elsewhere in your bedroom
• bed bugs, insect skins or eggs
• brown spotting (bed bug faeces) on your mattress
• regularly waking with bites on your skin

Bed bug bites can cause red, itchy spots that are up to 2cm in size. On black or brown skin, the bites may look purple and be harder to see.

Bites are most often found on exposed skin, such as your arms and shoulders.

As many as 1 in 5 people do not react to bed bug bites. Other people may not notice a reaction for up to 9 days after they are bitten.

Large infestations can cause a 'bug' smell, which is sickly sweet.

How are bed bugs diagnosed?

Bed bugs can be confirmed by looking at the bugs or the eggs under a microscope.

When should I see my doctor?

See your doctor if you are concerned about bug bites on your skin.

How are bed bug bites treated?

Bed bug bites tend to clear up on their own, or with simple self-care measures.

Self-care at home

You can treat bed bug bites by washing your bites with antiseptic soap to reduce the chance of infection. Also try applying an ice pack to ease swelling.

Medicines for bed bug bites

You can use antipruritic (anti-itch) creams, such as calamine lotion.

Your doctor may suggest steroid cream or antihistamines if your bites are very itchy. If a bite has become infected, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

You can also talk to your pharmacist about treatments for bed bug bites.

Bed bug control

It can be very hard to get rid of bed bugs. It's not unusual for the live bed bugs to be killed by treatment, only to have the surviving eggs hatch and infest the location again.

Chemical treatments to get rid of bed bugs

If you think that you have a bed bug infestation, call a licensed pest management company for treatment.

They will need to inspect your home. After the first treatment, follow-up inspections may be needed, to make sure that all the bed bugs are gone.

Delaying treatment may cause the bed bugs to spread. This will make control more difficult and expensive.

Non-chemical treatments to get rid of bed bugs

Some other ways that can help to treat bed bug infestations are to:

• thoroughly wash, vacuum and clean all surfaces
• wash your bedding and clothes in hot water (above 60°C) — dry sheets and clothes in a tumble dryer on hot setting for at least 30 minutes
• steam clean your carpets
• spray common hiding spots with a surface pesticide that controls bed bugs; but do not treat your bedding with this

Bed bugs are sensitive to temperature. They will die:

• within one hour when exposed to temperatures over 45°C
• immediately at temperatures of 60°C or higher
• with rapid freezing

Small items can be put in the freezer overnight. It is suggested that items are left for 10 hours for every 2.5kg of dry linen.

Complications of bed bugs

Sometimes, itching can lead to too much scratching which may cause a skin infection.

Severe infestations with bed bugs can cause people to become anaemic. Some doctors believe bed bugs may trigger allergies and asthma.

Bed bugs can also impact your mental health.

Very rarely, people can develop an anaphylactic reaction (severe allergy) to bed bug bites

Can bed bugs be prevented?

There are things you can do to help prevent getting bed bugs.

At home

You can help prevent bed bug infestations by:

• regularly checking your bed for bed bugs
• keeping your bedroom tidy to reduce hiding spots
• carefully checking second-hand furniture for signs of bed bugs before taking it inside

Regularly using a vacuum cleaner with a disposable bag may help to remove bed bugs.

When travelling

Bed bugs are more often found in low-cost, short-stay accommodation. But they can be found anywhere that you sleep.

Look for signs of bed bugs wherever you stay. Check the bedding and under the mattress stitching for signs of bed bugs.

Resources and support

If you are concerned about bed bugs, you can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.