Bed bugs

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• What are bed bugs?
• What are the signs and symptoms of bed bugs?
• How are bed bug bites treated?
• How to get rid of bed bugs
• How to prevent bed bugs
• Related information on Australian websites

Bed bugs are small oval-shaped and flat insects. They can grow up to 5mm long, changing colour from cream to brown as they mature. While they need to feed on blood to grow, they are resilient and can live for up to a year without a feed.

Bed bugs tend to live in cracks and crevices in and around your bed, especially in mattress seams and travel on clothing, furniture, bedding and luggage. They prefer to feed on humans but will also feed on other warm-blooded animals. They mainly feed at night.

While they are not known to transmit diseases, bed bugs are upsetting and can be hard to get rid of.

Signs of a bed bug infestation include:

• regularly waking with bites
• bed bugs on your mattress, bed frame and other furniture
• brown spotting (bed bug faeces) or blood spots on your mattress
• a musty, sweet smell with large infestations
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Bed bug bites can cause red, itchy spots that are often found on legs, arms and shoulders. Some bites can become infected. Some people do not react, while others may not react until up to 9 days after they are bitten.

Very occasionally, people with multiple bites have lost so much blood they became anaemic. Some doctors believe bed bugs may trigger allergies and asthma.

It can be very hard to get rid of bed bugs.

Call Sprayed Pest Control for help

You will need to treat all areas where the bed bugs hide, including under the mattress and in all cracks and crevices. Thoroughly vacuum the whole area and remove the contents of the vacuum in a sealed plastic bag.

You should wash all clothing and bedding that may have been contaminated with bed bugs at 60oC.

In addition to the above sanitation requirements, chemical intervention is required. 

Call Sprayed Pest Control to help 

You can help prevent infestations by:

• avoiding      using second-hand mattresses
• regularly      checking your mattress and bed frame for bed bugs
• keeping      your bedroom tidy to minimise hiding spots
• check      your luggage after staying at a hotel
• wash      your clothing after using public transport or going to the movies

Sources:

Australian Family Physician (Bed bugs - What the GP needs to know), NHS Choices (Bedbugs), SA Health (Bed bugs – prevention and treatment)

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Last reviewed: February 2021

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bed-bugs