Bedbug bites: how to treat and how to relieve symptoms?

Bed bugs are a common household problem, which sooner or later everyone can face. These insects often get into the house from neighbors, from hotels, taxis, when buying old and sometimes even new furniture, as a result of acquiring used clothes and in other ways. In living quarters, they settle in beds, sofas, mattresses, the gaps between the skirting boards and wallpaper.

Bed bugs are parasites that feed on human and animal blood, so numerous bites of these insects become inevitable for the owners of the apartments where they appeared. In most cases, domestic bugs do not cause serious harm to human health, with the exception of unpleasant, and sometimes quite painful sensations on the skin at the puncture site. To prevent complications, it is important to know how to treat bedbug bites, what can and cannot be done. As a rule, the treatment of bites is carried out with the help of special ointments or creams that reduce pain, redness and itching in inflamed areas of the skin.

Manifestations on the skin after bed vinegar

Reactions after bedbugs can be different depending on the individual characteristics of the human body. Among the frequently observed skin symptoms in the area of ​​the prokus are present:

• redness and irritation;
• swelling;
• burning and itching;
• soreness.

Before you begin to treat bedbug bites, you need to make sure that damage to the skin is caused by these parasites. The characteristic features of bedbug bites, which distinguishes them from other insect bites, are:

• the multiplicity of skin punctures in the form of a chain of 3–6 bites at a distance of 2 to 4 cm from each other;
• localization of bites mainly in open areas of the skin;
• the appearance of the first symptoms of vinegar is observed, as a rule, in the morning, since the period of hunting in bedbugs lasts from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m .;
• detection of small spots of blood on bedding after night;
• detection of parasite bodies or their droppings when examining a bed, mattress, blanket or bedding.

When the skin is punctured, the bedbug first injects saliva containing painkillers and substances that prevent blood clotting. Thus, during a bite, a person does not feel pain at all, which allows the insect for a long time (on average from 3 to 10 minutes) to continuously suck blood. Bedbug larvae also suck blood in humans, but their bites are quite painful because they do not inject saliva with painkillers before piercing the skin. In addition, the larva, unlike an adult, absorbs less blood at a time, but eats every day.

Important: One bug sucks a person about 7 microliters of blood. This amount is enough for the insect to digest for 7-10 days, after which it again needs food.

When choosing a victim, this type of parasite prefers people with thin and smooth skin, and therefore women and children are at risk. Most often, prokusi are found on the body in places with the most delicate skin, which are the inner surfaces of the arms and legs, the neck and abdomen.

How long do bug bites last? For each person, the duration of irritation on the skin at the site of the bite depends on whether any measures have been taken for treatment, individual characteristics of the body, skin sensitivity, or the presence of a concomitant allergic reaction. In some people, bite marks are subtle, completely painless and disappear by themselves during the day. In others, irritation on the skin can persist for a week and at the same time it is difficult to treat with the help of special remedies for bites from bedbugs and other insects.

Important: If there are a lot of bugs in the apartment, then they become more aggressive, can climb under clothes and bite even in the daytime.

Possible complications of bedbugs

As a rule, bug bites do not pose a threat to human health. Despite the fact that insects are carriers of many infectious diseases, cases of human infection with them are currently unknown. This is due to the special device of the pricking and sucking apparatus of parasites, in which direct contact of the blood of the insect and the person is excluded.

Among the possible complications resulting from a bug bite, infection of the bite site, allergic reactions and psychological discomfort are found.

Infection of the wound after a bite is extremely rare, since it has very small sizes and quickly becomes crusty. To prevent infection, the site of the bite should be treated with a disinfectant immediately after it is detected. Also, you can not touch the wound with dirty hands, much less comb it. The characteristic symptoms of infection resulting from a bite of a wound include local hyperthermia, excretion of pus and a general deterioration in well-being.

Important: In case of complications resulting from bedbug bites, treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor!

Allergy usually occurs immediately after the contact of human skin with the saliva of the parasite and manifests itself in the form of:

• sneezing, runny nose, coughing;
• swelling of the skin and mucous membranes;
• difficulty breathing;
• rashes throughout the body;
• irritability;
• weakness and headache.

The most severe forms of allergies are Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. These conditions pose a threat to human life and require immediate medical attention.

The psychological discomfort caused by constant bites of bedbugs is manifested in a person’s disturbance of sleep, nervousness, fatigue, and depressive states. The realization that there are blood-sucking parasites in the apartment can cause shock, nightmares and the fear of going to bed with squeamish or too susceptible people, especially children.

Treatment of skin reactions from bedbugs

What to do if bitten by bugs? In most cases, irritation from bites goes away on its own and does not require the use of any medicine except for the treatment of the skin with disinfectants. Traces of bedbug bites, accompanied by severe itching, redness and swelling, must be treated with antihistamines of local, and in severe cases, systemic effects. Most often used ointments, creams and gels that help relieve inflammation and have antiseptic activity. Sometimes you can cope with unpleasant symptoms with the help of folk remedies.

Antiseptic solutions

Before treating bedbug bites, it is necessary to disinfect the affected areas of the skin. To do this, you can use:

• ammonia.This tool can only be used for emergency first aid. For example, if a bug bite occurred on a trip or in the country, but there are no more effective drugs at hand. It is strictly forbidden to treat the skin of small children with ammonia;
• hydrogen peroxide. This drug is characterized by a hemostatic effect. Therefore, it is advisable to use it only with constant leakage of blood from the wound. In other cases, its use is irrelevant, since hydrogen peroxide does not have pronounced antiseptic properties;
• ethanol. It is sold in pharmacies as a 70% or 90% solution. They must be diluted with an equal volume of water, otherwise a chemical burn is likely. Alcohol should only be used on the skin around the wound 2-3 times a day, as its contact with damaged tissues will cause quite severe pain ;;
• a solution of chlohexidine or miramistin. These antiseptic agents should be used up to 5 times a day. They prevent the infection of wounds, neutralize highly allergenic organic compounds that are contained in the saliva of bugs.

What else helps from bug bites - alcohol tinctures of medicinal plants. Calendula, whose chemical composition contains many volatile and bioflavonoids, is especially useful. These bioactive substances simultaneously stop inflammation, stimulate the restoration of damaged capillaries and prevent the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the wound.

Recommendation! How to treat bedbug bites in the absence of pharmacy tools at hand - ordinary vodka. But only on condition that it does not contain dyes, flavors and flavor enhancers. Adults can use any cologne, and for children alcohol-containing tonics or lotions are suitable.

Medications

How to treat bedbug bites - ointments, gels, creams, balms with antihistamine effect. In pharmacies, they are presented in a wide assortment. All antiallergic drugs are divided into two large groups. The first includes drugs with glucocorticosteroids - synthetic analogues of hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. They can be used only in the treatment of adults and exclusively as directed by a doctor. And for the treatment of children, it is advisable to use ointments and gels from the second group. They contain mainly phytoextracts of medicinal plants and useful synthetic additives.

To alleviate the condition of the skin at the site of the bite, you can apply products that will relieve itching, reduce swelling and redness, and reduce pain. They must be used in accordance with the recommendations of the doctor or instructions. These drugs include the following ointments from bedbugs:

• Fenistil gel. How to treat bug bites in humans - use a gentle, quickly absorbed Fenistil gel. It often becomes the first choice drug in the treatment of subacute and sluggish allergic reactions. This is a non-hormonal drug, all of the therapeutic effects of which are provided by dimethindene maleate. Fenistil reduces the severity of itching and irritation provoked by allergic reactions, has a local anesthetic effect, moisturizes, cools and softens the skin. Used in pediatrics from 1 month;
• Ointment Lifeguard. This is not a pharmacological drug, but a dietary supplement. Therefore, it is advisable to apply it from bites of bugs on the body of an adult. For the treatment of children, a gel specially designed only for them is available. The composition of the Rescuer is represented by essential and cosmetic oils, fat-and water-soluble vitamins, trace elements, dexpanthenol. The drug quickly eliminates itching, pain, redness and swelling of the skin, promotes resorption of edema;
• Menovazine solution.This is a combined preparation for external use, often used for dermatoses. The active ingredients benzocaine and procaine exhibit local anesthetic activity. Menthol, when applied to skin damaged by bedbugs, irritates nerve endings, dilates superficial vessels, providing a powerful analgesic effect. After applying Menovazin, there is a sensation of cold, a slight burning sensation and tingling sensation. In pediatrics, the drug is not used.
  

  Important! Menovazine should not be applied immediately to large areas of the skin. In some people, individual intolerance to one of its active or auxiliary components is detected. At the initial stage of therapy, you need to test the drug by applying a drop of solution to the wrist

• Psilo-balm. How to get rid of bug bites in the shortest possible time - use Psilo-balm. This drug has relatively recently appeared on the pharmaceutical market, but has already managed to establish itself well in the treatment of allergic dermatoses. The drug exhibits anesthetic, antiallergic activity, quickly reduces itching. It is forbidden to use the drug in the treatment of children under 2 years old .;
• Afloderm ointment. Thick colorless ointment has a pronounced anti-histamine activity, lowers the increased permeability of capillaries, reduces hyperemia and swelling of tissues. It has a local anesthetic effect, instantly eliminating pain, itching and even the most severe burning sensation. Despite the fact that Afloderm is a hormonal drug, it is allowed to use it to treat children from 6 months;
• Tsindol suspension. What to do if you bit the bugs - quickly use the time-tested means. One of them is Tsindol. It contains zinc oxide, which is characterized by a pronounced drying activity. The drug has an absorbent, astringent and disinfectant effect. Reduces exudation and weeping, eliminates irritation, relieves inflammatory processes. Tsindol is allowed to be used for dermatoses in children from birth .;
• ointment with hydrocortisone. How to get rid of itching after a bug bite - using Hydrocortisone ointment. This hormonal agent has a pronounced antihistamine effect, reduces the increased permeability of capillaries, eliminates swelling and redness of tissues. When applied to the skin surface, it quickly and effectively reduces the severity of objective symptoms and subjective sensations. Hydrocortisone ointment should not be used in the treatment of children under 2 years old .;
• Elidel cream. The main advantage of Elidel is a local selective anti-inflammatory effect in combination with an immunostimulating effect. And its special gel base protects the skin and leaves no visible trace. The drug stimulates the improvement of blood circulation in the dermis and epidermis. They begin to receive oxygen and nutrients necessary for the regeneration of damaged tissues. Elidel is completely safe for children from 3 months.

If an allergy occurs, it is advisable to take internal antihistamines that have a systemic effect on the body. These include Diazolin, Diphenhydramine, Suprastin, Fenistil, Tavegil and others, which can be used as medicines for bedbug bites, accompanied by allergic manifestations.

Folk remedies

How to treat bedbug bites folk remedies? The easiest way is to rinse the inflamed area with a stream of cold water or apply ice. This will help remove swelling and redness, temporarily reduce itching and pain.

It is also possible to alleviate unpleasant symptoms and relieve inflammation on the skin by treating the bite site with the following alternative methods:

• washing with soap and water or a solution of baking soda;
• the application of a chopped onion in half;
• processing with fresh parsley or potato juice;
• rubbing with alcohol tincture of propolis or St. John's wort broth;
• applying mint leaves, plantain, chopped dandelion flowers.

Ointments prepared at home can cope well with skin lesions. Such funds are safe, quickly eliminate inflammatory edema, contribute to the accelerated healing of the epidermis and deeper tissues. They do not replace drugs prescribed by a doctor, but significantly enhance and prolong (prolong) their effect. The most effective ointments made according to such recipes:

• A tablespoon of a dry string pour 1/3 cup boiling water, leave for a couple of hours, strain. Measure out 30 ml of infusion, mix with 100 g of oily baby cream;
• in a mortar, mix a tablespoon of thick honey and aloe juice, add 1 drop of essential oils of thyme and pine. Enter medical vaseline in small portions until a homogeneous mixture with a creamy consistency is formed;
• in a mortar, grind to a state of slurry two large leaves of plantain, peeled from coarse veins. Add a tablespoon of cosmetic oil from wheat germ, 50 g of baby cream and petroleum jelly.

Home-made ointments do not contain preservatives, so they should be stored on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for no more than 10 days. It is necessary to apply folk remedies to the place of a bug bite up to 3 times a day and always before bedtime. At night, recovery processes are especially active in all layers of the skin.

Advice! For the manufacture of ointments with a regenerating effect, it is best to use a baby cream, which includes phytoextracts of a series, chamomiles, fat-soluble vitamins A and D.

When biting the skin, bedbugs inject saliva into the wound with bioactive substances that prevent blood clotting. They are very toxic to humans, can provoke a severe allergic reaction. If the bug bit a few hours ago, and inflammatory edema is only enlarging, you should seek medical help. In such cases, parenteral administration of antihistamines is often required.

Recommendation: If you find bugs on the body, you should immediately address the issue of the destruction of these parasites. It is best to contact special insect control services for this.