Although there is barely anything dangerous about bed bugs, they are an absolute nuisance to deal with. If they were dangerous, we would have realized that a long time ago. Bed bugs were around us since tens of thousands of years and without causing much harm.
In fact, bed bugs want us to survive because human blood is the real deal for them. It is what they live for and also why they do their best to get close to us. They don’t want us to get sick either, because they want their portion of human blood to be fresh and nutritious.
However, this is not to say that bed bugs can’t cause mild health issues. They are also going to bite you, and those bites can get infectious if you are not careful. Bed bugs can also cause anxiety and insomnia, since they tend to bother people a lot during the night hours.
If you are awake at night, you are probably going to feel bed bugs crawling on you, which makes it much harder to fall asleep. Since they are such nuisances, they can cause emotional and mental problems as well. They can even cause skin problems such as Ecthyma or Impetigo.
You should be concerned about Impetigo if you have children or infants in the household because there is a chance they are going to be affected by it. If you notice any sores on their face while having a bed bug problem, then it is probably Impetigo.
Ecthyma is basically Impetigo that got deeper in the skin and turned into a bacterial infection. If you notice any crusty sores, then it is probably Ecthyma.
Can Bed Bugs Kill You?
Bed bugs are little annoying, rice grain-sized insects that will feed on your blood, but they can’t kill you. In fact, it is great for them if you stay alive and well because it means they can feed more. Bed bug bites, however, can be dangerous in rare cases.
Their bites pretty much look like mosquito bites and they are also itchy. If you are not careful with these bites, you can end up suffering from serious health conditions. Again, we are talking about extremely rare cases. There is no need to panic about bed bug bites and there are also lotions available for it.
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Chances are that you are rather going to suffer from emotional distress than physical. Bed bugs tend to group up and bite people multiple times in the same exposed area. Blood infection is the worst that can happen to you, which is basically a blood infection.
If you completely disregard it, then you can end up having a septic shock, which can be fatal in some cases. This is uncommon and it is only fatal if you completely neglect the problem. Once you get bitten, you need to make sure that the bite is clean and free from bacteria.
Can Bed Bug Bites Make You Sick?
Bed bug bites might not look like a big deal but they can cause serious problems in rare cases. Besides itching, there are also allergic reactions you should be aware of. These include pain in the area bitten, nausea, vomiting, chills, fever, difficulty breathing and dizziness.
If you experience any of these after being bitten by bed bugs, then you better consult or visit a doctor. These allergic reactions can be mild but they surely can get worse over time. If you neglect them, they can become more and more severe and harder to deal with.
In rare cases, they can turn into anaphylaxis, which not something to play with. If left untreated, it can be fatal. For such allergic reactions, doctors usually recommend taking Benadryl or some other antihistamine.
People with anaphylaxis are treated in hospitals in most cases. The treatment includes taking IV antihistamines, epinephrine or oxygen. It is crucial to contact the doctor once you notice any swelling in your throat, tongue or if you have difficulty breathing.
Can Bed Bug Spray Make You Sick?
Using sprays against bed bugs can be dangerous sometimes. After buying the spray, it is recommended to read the instructions before using it. Since there can be serious chemicals in such sprays, they should not be used carelessly. The spray has to only cover bed bugs or areas where they hide.
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For example, there are lots of bed bug sprays that contain pyrethrin. If you are not careful, this chemical can make you sick. It can cause nausea, headaches, loss of coordination, convulsions, tremors and facial flushing. Make sure to put your safety first while using any of these sprays.
Can Bed Bugs Make You Physically Sick?
If you have a bed bug problem, those little nuisances going to bite you while you sleep. If you don’t find those bites right away, you are certainly going to feel them when they start itching. Unfortunately, itching is not always the only problem.
This really depends on the individual but bed bug bites can cause allergic reactions too. These reactions are sometimes mild but sometimes severe. If you notice any chills, fever, dizziness, swelling, nausea, difficulty breathing or a painful bed bug bite, you probably have an allergic reaction to it.
It is important to take any of these seriously because they can lead to something worse. Some people have such a strong reaction to it that they end up having an anaphylaxis, which is a serious allergic reaction. This can be life-threatening if you are not careful.
The thing about these reactions is they can get more and more severe over time. Anaphylaxis causes difficulty breathing and swelling in the tongue and throat. Taking Benadryl or another antihistamine can solve the problem but make sure to consult with your doctor before taking such medication.
People with anaphylaxis can end up in the hospital where they are treated with epinephrine, IV antihistamines or oxygen. After all, these are rare cases but it is still better to be safe than sorry.
