QUESTION:
Can you get sick from bed bug bites?
ANSWER:
Though not very common, experts say yes bed bug bites can sometimes lead to severe allergic reactions, insomnia and even anxiety.
SOURCES:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mayo Clinic
Terminix
Orkin
PROCESS:
Our Verify team is here to get you facts to the things you question online and in your neighborhood.
A viewer asked our Verify to find out if bed bugs can cause you to get sick and poorly affect your health.
This comes after pest control company, Orkin DC as the second worst city, nationwide for bed bugs.
So our Verify team got answers by going to experts at the CDC, Mayo Clinic and Terminix.
Terminix experts say bed bugs often bite in lines or clusters forming red, swollen areas, but it's important to know everyone reacts differently, some people show no signs of red bumps on their skin while other people can show signs of an allergic reaction that include swelling, hives or excessive scratching.
It's always best to talk to your doctor if you do experience an allergic reaction to the bites.
However, the CDC clarified the parasitic insects are not considered to be dangerous usually don't pose a serious medical threat and are not known to spread diseases.
Verify experts also checked with the Mayo Clinic, and they said most bed bugs can do not require medical treatment and can usually be treated with a skin cream containing hydra-cortisone or an oral antihistamine, like Benadryl. But other bed bug bite symptoms include insomnia and anxiety.
So we verified though not very common, in some instances bed bug bites can poorly affect both your physical and mental health.
