How and what to treat bed bug bites on the human body. Effective treatment methods

When an object is infested, you should be concerned not only about the condition of the apartment, but also about your own health. Bites The presence of blood-sucking insects contributes to unpleasant symptoms: intolerable itching, painful sensations, inflammation, etc. The intensity of the symptoms increases in people with hypersensitivity. The pathological condition will not go away on its own if complications develop.

In this case, a suitable treatment regimen must be prescribed, taking into account the age of the patient, the presence of concomitant diseases, the degree of body damage.

Bed bug bite symptoms

Bloodsuckers Insects can provoke various complications. In each case, the symptomatology is different, especially when comparing bites in a child and an adult. But a number of signs are noted that are considered common and are most often found in victims (you can watch a video of what it looks like):

• red spots - appear on the areas where the parasite made a puncture of the skin, the diameter varies from a few millimeters to 5-6 cm, sometimes more;
• itching is felt after 15-20 minutes, until then the substance that the parasite introduces during the bite continues to act, in comparison, larvae have no such opportunity, since not all body functions are still active;
• Swelling - occurs in people with hypersensitivity, and the size of the bump can be significant;
• painful sensations against the background of swelling.

In addition to that, the children larger bite marks appear. Because of the intense itching, scratches form. These areas open the way for pathogens to enter. As a result, an inflammatory process develops, and the temperature rises. But not all people experience these symptoms. Only one third of the population exhibits the signs described above.

For the most part, people don't notice bed bug bites (But only until parasites not become too much).

Distinctive features of the bite. Photo

The main peculiarity of laundry parasites is the ability to leave not single, but numerous bites. Their number varies between 6-8 pieces, but is not constant, but varies: sometimes the insects leave 2-3 red spots on the body of other people - several times more. This is explained by the difference in the needs of pests. Thus, larvae consume less blood than adults. In addition, human availability also plays a role.

If the bedbug hasn't had food for a long time, it may make more punctures.

Symptoms bedbug bites The distance between the punctures is short, and the distance between the punctures is small. The distance between the punctures is short. The bedbug, satiating itself, makes the next bite nearby, until it gets the required portion of blood. And the tracks are found on the exposed parts of the body, in winter it is limbs, neck, and in summer red spots can also appear on the body if a person sleeps without a T-shirt/pajamas.

And during the day there are no symptoms, because bed parasites are active only after midnight.

How and what to treat bedbug bites

The main groups of drugs that are prescribed:

• antiseptics - used to treat bites before treatment begins;
• antihistamines - help to stop the signs of allergy, but do not eliminate the cause (the substance that bedbugs injected), you must first stop the attack of the parasites, along with this start treatment;
• anti-inflammatory (nonsteroidal and glucocorticosteroids) - their action is aimed at the focus of inflammation, in severe cases hormonal (glucocorticosteroids) means are used, in mild cases and in pathological conditions of medium severity, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) means are sufficient, they are appointed for secondary infection of scratch;
• antipruritic - there are drugs of local action with this property, but more often there are universal remedies (anti-inflammatory with analgesic and antipruritic action);
• antipyretics are prescribed mainly to children when the temperature rises in the background of the inflammatory process;
• Painkillers (topical) are used as an auxiliary measure, relieving the patient's condition.

It must be remembered that treatment The treatment for bedbug bites is carried out according to a scheme. You should not use all the remedies of the above groups at once. Symptomatic therapy is carried out, which means the use of drugs that stop any negative manifestations.

When to see a doctor

It is necessary to monitor the condition of the body. In most cases, no specialist control is required, the victims themselves use medications with a minimum number of contraindications, side effects. Recommendations when you should not treat bites at home, but rather consult a doctor:

Treatment of adults

First of all, it is recommended that you wash all the places where bed bugs have bitten with soap and water. These areas are treated with an antiseptic. You can choose one of these measures, but to improve the quality of protection from harmful microorganisms implement both options. If red spots appear, take antihistamines:

In addition, the affected areas are treated with antipruritic agents. Further treatment depends on the symptoms.

Peculiarities of treatment in children

A more complicated scheme is prescribed for a child of the first years of life, since in this case there are usually different symptoms and complications develop. When signs of allergy appear, an antihistamine drug is prescribed (according to age): Lordestin, Tavegil, Erius. These are means of systemic action. Antihistamines for children of the first years of life are available in syrup form.

It is also necessary to treat bites on the skin. To do this, safe remedies are used first:

• areas where scratches have appeared are treated with an antiseptic (alcohol, Chlorhexidine);
• against itching should be made with compresses using brewed black or green tea;
• Ice can relieve swelling at skin puncture points, but should not be applied for long periods of time.

If there is a fever, a dose of an antipyretic should be calculated. The cause is an inflammatory process. It is necessary to treat the focus; NSAIDs are used for this purpose.

The subtleties of treating bites in pregnant and breastfeeding women

It is recommended to use agents with a minimum level of toxicity for such body conditions. You can pay attention to the recommendations for treating the exteriors of children. It is also important to understand how to treat bed bug bites on the human body when signs of allergy appear.

During pregnancy and lactation, remedies approved for the treatment of children can be used. These include Erius, Lordestin, etc.

How to treat bed bug bites quickly and effectively

In most cases, treatment of the outer skin is sufficient. Local remedies are used for this purpose. Many of them are combined preparations and are versatile, which allows you to eliminate various symptoms at the same time. This allows the condition to improve more quickly, which is especially important when house bugs begin to bite children.

Table: Where to Buy the 10 Best Pharmacy Bite Remedies

When choosing topical medications, consider: properties, contraindications (in particular, age restrictions), side effects. The cost is also taken into account, but it is important to consider online pharmacies with a good reputation, so as not to get a counterfeit drug.

Folk methods of treatment at home

To alleviate the condition, when the victim feels severe itching, it is recommended to apply a porridge of baking soda and water. The remedy is prepared in free proportions, it is important to get a thick porridge. Other methods are also used. For example, folk remedies based on herbs are quite widespread.

Hypericum

The composition includes components: vitamins, choline, alkaloids, sterols, saponins, coumarins and tannins. All of them contribute to the restoration of tissue structure in areas affected by bed bugs. Neither in adults nor in children St. John's wort does not cause adverse reactions. This plant has many useful properties:

To preserve as much as possible useful substances, prepare an infusion: take 1 tbsp. raw materials, 1 cup boiling water. St. John's wort is added to the water, leave until it cools.

Chamomile

Its main property is anti-inflammatory. Also chamomile has a soothing effect, helps to stop the symptoms of allergies (used as a symptomatic remedy). Prepare a decoction:

• 4 tbsp. dried raw materials, 1 liter of boiling water;
• chamomile (flowers) is poured into the water;
• After half an hour, strain the infusion, then apply.

Aloe

It is a natural anti-inflammatory. It is used without additives, but aloe can be mixed with other ingredients if desired. However, in its pure form, this plant is effective. You should apply the pulp of aloe to each bite, then fix it with a plaster, but a less expensive option is to crush the plant, obtain the juice/gel, which will be applied to the outer skin, where appeared bites in a person.

It is acceptable to treat the entire body (with multiple punctures), because its advantage is also a positive effect on the skin (increases elasticity).

Plantain

The plant is characterized by its ability to eliminate itching, accelerate regeneration processes for small skin injuries, as well as scratches that occur if you scratch the affected areas. It is enough to wash the leaves, make several incisions on one side and treat the bite sites. Plantain juice is also obtained: the leaves are crushed, squeezed, applied to a cotton pad and applied to a skin puncture.

Video tip (photo+video): treating bedbug bites

Prevention of bites. How to be safe

While the fight against parasites is ongoing, you should use different methods of protection from direct contact with them:

• inside sofa or under mattress herbs with a strong odor are left in the bed;
• essential oils applied to various surfaces near a person's bed;
• on the legs of the bed glued double-sided tape, which will serve as a trap for insects that will crawl in order to get a meal.

A canopy is placed over the bed, and the bed should be moved away from the wall. Inspect the mattress, sofa (from the inside). If found socketsyou need to change your sleeping place for a while.

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Expert tips

Anna

Entomologist, researcher. Work experience of 16 years.

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- To prevent the development of complications when attacked by parasites, you need to know how to treat bed bug bites at the initial stage: these areas are treated with local remedies with anti-itching, anti-inflammatory action;
- if the size of the spot is more than 1 cm, we can say that the person has an increased sensitivity to insect bites and bed bugs in particular, with the best solution - taking antihistamines, then the skin punctures will be less disturbing;
- If a child is prone to allergies or asthma, it is better to put him to sleep every night under a canopy, the best preventive measure in this case - treated with insecticide chalk the perimeter of the vent, door and window frames, areas on the floor, where the pipes wind up.

Conclusion

When an object is contaminated bedbugs You need to get an idea of how to protect yourself from their biteswhat to do when red spots appear on the body:

1. Signs of parasite attack: hyperemia in the puncture sites of the skin, severe itching, swelling. It can develop allergyThen the signs become more obvious, including an increase in the size of the red spots.
2. A doctor should be consulted if the treatment at home intensifies the symptoms and does not go away. In this case, different principles of therapy for adults and children should be applied: in the first case, different types of remedies are used, and in the second case, safe methods should be used (folk recipes will do).
3. For prophylaxis bites apply essential oils, herbs with a strong odor. If there are no nests inside the construction of a sofa, bed, an effective way is to use a canopy.