Der All-In-One-Leitfaden zur Behandlung von Bettwanzenbissen

Die einzige Nahrungsquelle der Wanzen ist Blut und aus diesem Grund saugen diese lästigen Kreaturen Blut. Damit sie wachsen können, sollten sie in jeder ihrer unreifen Stadien einmal fressen. Erwachsene Weibchen müssen sich auch von Blut ernähren, damit sie Eier produzieren können. Obwohl Bettwanzen Menschen Blut saugen, können sie keine Krankheiten übertragen.

Was sind Bettwanzen?

Bettwanzen sind winzige Insekten mit flachen und ovalen Körpern. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Insekten, die fliegen können, haben diese Kreaturen keine Flügel und verlassen sich hauptsächlich auf Menschen, um sie von einem Ort zum anderen zu transportieren. Diese Insekten sind rotbraun gefärbt und da sie extrem klein sind, sind sie fast unsichtbar. Sie saugen Blut von Tieren oder Menschen und sind meistens nachts aktiv, indem sie das Blut ihrer Opfer saugen, während sie schlafen.

Wie sehen Bettwanzenstiche aus?

Manche Menschen reagieren nicht auf einen Bettwanzenstich. Es gibt jedoch auch andere, die unter den folgenden Symptomen leiden, nachdem sie von Bettwanzen gebissen wurden:

• Bisse, die eine Linie bilden oder in einem kleinen Bereich gruppiert sind.
• Nesselsucht oder Blasen an der gebissenen Stelle.
• Roter und geschwollener Bereich und ein dunkles Rot in der Mitte.

Bisse können überall sonst im Körper auftreten und treten häufiger an exponierten Hautstellen wie Händen, Beinen, Armen und Gesicht auf.

Symptome eines Bettwanzenbisses?

Symptome von Bettwanzenstichen treten normalerweise nicht sofort auf. Manchmal dauert es ein paar Tage, bis sich die Symptome zeigen. Außerdem ernähren sich diese Insekten nicht jede Nacht von Blut. Tatsächlich konnten sie mehrere Tage ohne Nahrung überleben. Normalerweise dauert es einige Wochen, bis Sie die Bisse bemerken.

Die Bisse sind oft sehr juckend. Sie könnten nach einigen Tagen unter einem brennenden Gefühl auf Ihrer Haut leiden. Der Grund, warum Sie den Biss nicht spüren, ist, dass Bettwanzen dazu neigen, eine kleine Menge Anästhetikum in Ihrem Körper auszuscheiden, bevor sie Ihr Blut saugen. Wenn Sie an der gebissenen Stelle kratzen, kann dies eine Infektion Ihrer Haut auslösen, die zu Schwellungen und Blutungen führt.

Welche anderen Bisse sehen aus wie ein Bettwanzenbiss?

Unless you’re suffering from a bed bug infestation or you slept in an infested bed, there’s no way to tell that your mysterious bites are a result of bed bug bites. If your bites are indeed caused by a bed bug bite, they will soon become slightly itchy and will eventually get swollen with an irritating bright red color in the middle. During the early stages, the bite will resemble that of a mosquito bite. However, the pattern of the bites is different. They tend to appear in a straight line or in small groupings in your skin, unlike the mosquito bites which are more sporadic.

Can Bed Bug Bites Cause Other Problems?

Fortunately, unlike other biting bugs, the bed bugs are not capable of transmitting diseases. However, the biggest problem you could encounter with a bed bug bite is skin infection on the bitten area due to excessive scratching and itching. You could also suffer from the lack of sleep because of the itch and the feeling that you might be bitten again.

If you’re allergic to a bed bug bite, you could suffer from more dramatic symptoms, such as painful swelling, engorged bite marks on the skin, burning sensation at the bitten area, and in some cases, anaphylactic response.

Where Are Bed Bugs Usually Found?

If you believe you have been bitten by bed bugs, it’s important that you deal with the matter immediately. Don’t wait for more bites to happen before you deal with the problem. Bedbug infestations used to be rare, however, in the recent years, they have become more common.

Bed bugs are mostly found in areas where there are plenty of people living in close quarters. But in some cases, they may end up in your home simply because someone may have brought them there.

Here are some of the most common places where bed bugs love to thrive:

• Apartment complexes
• Offices
• College dormitories
• Homeless shelters
• Hospitals
• Hotels
• Military barracks

How to Find Them?

Bed bugs love to hide on places where you sleep. So if you notice some mysterious bites on your skin, try to look for them around your bed. It may be difficult to spot them but if you see tiny dots in black color, then that could be them. Other signs are red smears which are the blood that they have sucked out of you.

Here are some of the most common hiding places for bed bugs in your home:

• Bed frames
• Bed skirts
• Box springs
• Headboard
• Carpeting at baseboards and below the furniture
• Curtains and other fabrics
• At the seams and crevices of furniture
• Mattresses
• Pillows

How to Treat Bed Bug Bites?

Bed bugs are not really that deadly or dangerous, but they are terribly annoying. The symptoms of their bite could disappear in a week or two. You can use an anti-itch cream to prevent the itchiness that comes as a result of the bite. You can take an antihistamine to minimize the burning sensation and the feeling of itchiness. Ice packs can also help to numb your skin and prevent your urge to scratch. You can use lotion or antiseptic cream just in case the bite gets infected.

Prevention

One way to prevent bed bug bites is to prevent the insects from getting into your place and feed or breed in human environments.

During the day, these insects love to seek refuge in the crevices and cracks of walls, flooring, furniture, and in mattresses.

The folds and seams of upholstered furniture can also offer a great hiding place for bed bugs. They are also known to thrive in vacuum canisters.

Bedbugs choose to hide in areas near the sleeping quarters of humans, such as in beds.

Here are some of the places where bed bug infestation is a common occurrence:

• Apartment and condominium units
• College dormitories or housing units
• Cruise ships
• Daycares
• Second-hand furniture stores
• Hospitals
• Hotels
• Large office spaces
• Nursing homes
• Public transportation
• Rented homes
• Shopping malls
• Urban areas
• Vacation rentals

Here are the items that are responsible for the spread of bed bugs:

• Secondhand or new furniture
• Textiles exposed to bed bugs
• Loungers and chairs where people would use to sleep
• Bedding and bedclothes
• Storage boxes or moving boxes

Bed bugs don’t have any specific preferences. They could thrive in new or used things and in sanitary or unsanitary conditions. However, they are also common at high-end places, such as in hotels and airplanes.

Bed Bugs Control

Here are some of the most effective tips when it comes to the prevention, control, and clearing of bed bug infestations:

• Don’t stay on furniture, objects, or places that are known to have bed bug infestations.
• When shopping for furniture, choose those that are made from materials that don’t have crevices, seams, or cracks that the bed bugs can linger on.
• Avoid furniture or items that come from areas or environments that are heavily infested with bed bugs.
• Seal or fill any crevices, cracks, and seams in some of the objects in your home using glue or caulking.
• Regularly wash and clean your bed clothing and beddings.
• Wash beddings properly and dry them at high heat.
• Regularly vacuum upholstered items and make sure you vacuum them thoroughly.
• Clean the heavier bedding items such as the upholstered items and mattresses in high heat. Apply the “dry steam” setting, which is usually available in most modern washing machines.
• Kill the eggs and bugs in upholstered items and luggage using hand steamer.
• When traveling, always keep the luggage on racks and far from furniture, beds, and floors.
• Take time to check hotel rooms for signs of bed bugs when traveling.
• Cover your skin as much as possible when sleeping in a bed bug infested bedroom.

If the infestation of bed bugs is severe, consider destroying the infested items or furniture. If possible, burn the items.

Get Rid of Bed Bugs for Good

The moment you notice the presence of bed bugs in your home, call a pest control company immediately. These companies are well capable of treating the bed bug infestation in your home. Remember that getting rid of the bed bugs yourself is extremely difficult and you might just end up prolonging the infestation. These tiny insects could hide in your home for several months without feeding on blood so hiring a professional is the best way to get rid of them completely.

How Are Flea Bites Different from Bedbug Bites?

If the bites on your skin are patterned in small groups of dots, they are either fleabites or bed bug bites. It can be difficult to tell the difference between these bites. However, fleabites are usually common in the lower half of the body and they prefer the warm and moist areas of the skin, such as in the bends of knees and elbows. On the other hand, bed bug bites are usually common in the upper half of your body, near the neck, face, and arms.

Fleabites 101

Just like the bed bugs, fleas are tiny insects that suck on blood. 5% of them thrive on pets, which is usually the reason why humans get fleabites. Fleas can’t fly; however, they are capable of jumping up to 18 cm high! Once they latch onto their victim, they immediately start to bite.

Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of fleabites are small red marks on the skin coupled with an intense feeling of itchiness. These bites are often grouped together.

Flea bites are most common in the following areas of the body:

• Waist
• Feet and lower legs
• Armpits
• Ankles
• Knees
• Elbows

Risk Factors

If you are allergic to fleas, you could develop rashes or hives after a flea bite. The bitten area may also start to develop blisters and will eventually swell. Once the blister breaks, this could potentially lead to infection. If you end up scratching the affected area and break your skin, you’ll get a secondary infection.

Fleas could also infest your skin. For instance, burrowing fleas could lead to an infestation known as the tungiasis. This often always occurs at the toes and feet. The flea could also dig into your skin and start feeding. Eventually, the flea will die after two weeks, however, it may lead to more complicated skin infections soon after.

How to Treat Flea Bites

The first line of treatment for flea bites is to wash the bitten area with water and soap. If possible, apply a topical cream for anti-itch. Lukewarm bath of oatmeal may also help to relieve the feeling of itchiness. It’s also important to avoid bathing or showering with hot water as it has the tendency to make the itchiness even more severe.

The moment you notice that you are having allergic reactions as a result of the bite, consider taking an antihistamine in order to minimize the allergic reaction.

If possible, see your doctor, especially if you have developed an infection or if the bites aren’t clearing up after several weeks. If the bites are infected, your doctor may prescribe you with antibiotics along with other medication.

You could reduce the risk of flea infestation in your home by doing the following:

• Vacuum your furniture and floors regularly
• Use steam cleaning to clean your carpets
• Mow your lawn, especially if your pets tend to linger there
• Hire a pet control service
• Regularly wash your pets with soap and water
• Closely examine your pets for fleas
• Place a flea collar in your pet or bring your pet to a veterinarian to get treated

Bed Bug Bites 101

Just like fleas, bed bugs also feed on blood. They’re tiny, oval-shaped, and with a reddish brown color. It’s hard to see them during the day since they hide in dark places. These insects attack humans when they are asleep. This is because they are easily attracted to the heat of your body and the carbon dioxide that you produce every time you exhale.

Bedbugs prefer to hide in the following places:

• Bed frames
• Box springs
• Carpets
• Mattresses

It’s common to see bed bugs in facilities that are used heavily, such as in hospitals and hotels. They are also common in apartments and homes.

Symptoms

Bed bugs are capable of biting in the upper half of your body, especially in the following areas:

• Arms
• Face
• Hands
• Neck

Bedbug bites are usually small and accompanied with a dark red spot at the middle of the skin’s raised area. The bites are sometimes arranged in a straight line and could get worse if you scratch them.

Risk Factors

There are some people who tend to have serious reactions to bed bugs and the affected area could swell or get irritated after some time, which could result in blisters. You could also develop hives or severe rashes.

Bird Bugs vs. Bed Bugs

Bird bugs are most commonly known as bird lice or bird mites. They look exactly like bed bugs when viewed up close, however, they are usually smaller and resemble the look of a black pepper. Adult bird mite measures .5 mm while an adult bed bug is 5 mm in size.

Bird bugs tend to feed on birds, however, if the bird dies or leaves the nest, the bugs could crawl into your home to search for blood to suck. According to one study, bird bugs are able to survive up to 9 months without feeding. Thus, eliminating them during an infestation is a bit difficult.

How are bird bugs different from bed bugs?

• Bird bugs tend to be smaller than bed bugs.
• Bird bugs thrive on their hosts while the bed bugs simply bite and go back to their hiding places.
• Bird bugs don’t leave any fecal traces
• Bird bugs prefer birds although they tend to search for alternative food sources once their primary host is gone.
• Unlike bed bugs, bird bugs are not capable of reproducing on human blood.

If you believe that your home is infested with bird bugs, the first thing that you may need to do is to check your pets and see if the bugs are living in them. You also need to inspect your gutters, attic, and any adjacent trees that are close to your home. Remember that these bugs are parasites so the first step to eliminating them is to look for their host or source and eliminate them.

Bat Bugs vs. Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are actually a close cousin of the bed bugs.

It’s often said that bed bugs are the descendant of bat bugs who fed on humans dwelling in caves thousands of years ago.

Bat bugs are common bugs that get mistaken for bed bugs. These bugs rely heavily on bats as their main source of food. Just like bird bugs, bat bugs can’t reproduce on the blood of humans.

How do bat bugs differ from bed bugs?

• Bat bugs have longer hair
• Bat bugs only reproduce on bat blood and not human blood.

If you believe that your home is infested with bat bugs, inspect your basement, attic, cellar, and any location that these bugs may have had access to. As soon as the bats are removed, the bat bugs should also go away.

Mosquitoes vs. Bed Bugs

The mosquito is another insect that’s often confused with bed bugs. Most people who have been bitten by bed bugs try to convince themselves that the bites are merely from mosquitoes.

Unfortunately, there are not many differences between a mosquito bite and bed bug bite. This is why it’s often very difficult to assess the bite by simply looking at it. You must look for more evidence to prove that what you have is a bed bug.

For instance, if you live in tropical places like Florida and your home doesn’t have any window screens, then there’s a good chance that bites you have are from mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes can be a nuisance and must be eliminated. Some of the most effective tips for removing mosquitoes in your home include eliminating any standing water sources all over your house. These water sources provide a habitat for mosquitoes to thrive in and eventually reproduce.

Treating Bed Bug Bites

Bed bug bites will eventually go away after about a week or two. However, you may need to see your doctor if the following things occur:

• The bites will not go away after a few weeks.
• You are showing signs of allergic reactions, such as hives.
• You end up developing a secondary infection as a result of scratching.

You may use a topical steroid to treat the bites on your skin. If you’re having an allergic reaction, you may need to take oral antihistamines or steroids. Your doctor may also prescribe you with an antibiotic if you’re suffering from an infection.

If you believe that the bed bug bites happened in your home, you should inspect your living space.

Here are some ways on how you can remove bed bugs:

• Regularly clean and vacuum your furniture and floors.
• Put your upholstery and bed linens to laundry. Kill the bugs using hot washer and dryer.
• Remove all things out of your room and place them in below-freezing temperatures for a few days.
• Call a professional pest control service to treat your home.

How to Identify Bites on Pets

Bug bites on cats and dogs are pretty much the same with the bites on humans. You might notice some fleabites and mosquito bites on your pet. Just like with humans, the bugs don’t linger on pets after sucking blood since they will return to their hiding place after feeding. Aside from bites, you may also notice the bug’s feces in your pet’s skin and this could irritate their skin. The best thing that you can do is to inspect your pet’s sleeping area and beddings. Groom the animal frequently and check carefully for any signs of the presence of these pesky bugs.

Using Essential Oils for Itchy Bug Bites?

When used correctly, essential oils can effectively treat bed bug bites. These oils are derived naturally from plants and are capable of treating skin itchiness and inflammation.

The essential oils can also help minimize the urge to scratch the affected area. Persistent scratching could lead to an open wound.

Essential oils can help treat bug bites in many ways:

• It’s important to dilute the essential oils with carrier oils like vegetable oil.
• Use antimicrobial essential oils to minimize the risk of an infection.
• Essential oils that contain anti-inflammatory properties can change the way the body reacts to bug bites, reducing this way the feeling of itchiness.
• People suffering from allergic reactions must avoid using essential oils as they could trigger an asthma attack.

What Essential Oils You Should Use

Any type of bug bite could lead to infection, especially if it’s scratched thoroughly, leaving an open wound, just like with some insect stings. People who suffer from mild skin reaction may find essential oils very useful.

Es ist immer notwendig, das ätherische Öl mit einem Trägeröl zu mischen und es sollte nicht direkt auf die Haut aufgetragen werden. Die FDA überwacht die Verwendung von ätherischen Ölen nicht genau, daher ist es wichtig, eine ätherische Ölmarke zu wählen, die für ihre Reinheit und Qualität bekannt ist.

• Pfefferminz- und Mentholöle. Einigen Quellen zufolge können Pfefferminzöle helfen, der Haut ein kühlendes Gefühl zu verleihen, was es bei Insektenstichen wirksam macht. Das beruhigende Gefühl kann auch dazu beitragen, das Stechen, Jucken und Brennen aufgrund des Stichs oder Bisses zu lindern. Mehrere Forschungsstudien deuten darauf hin, dass das Pfefferminzöl als antimikrobielle Eigenschaft wirken könnte, was das mit der Infektion verbundene Risiko erheblich verringert. Vermeiden Sie nach Möglichkeit das Auftragen von Pfefferminzöl auf die verletzte Haut, da dies die Wunde verschlimmern könnte.
• Teebaumöl. Das Teebaumöl kann verhindern, dass Bakterien und andere Mikroben in die gebissene Hautpartie eindringen. Dies trägt auch dazu bei, das Risiko einer Hautinfektion zu verringern, was es zu einer großartigen Wahl für Kinder macht, die dem Drang zum Kratzen nicht widerstehen können.

Die Forschung legt auch nahe, dass das Teebaumöl als natürliches Antihistaminikum wirken kann. Antihistamin hilft, die Histaminrezeptoren des Körpers zu minimieren, die eine wichtige Rolle bei allergischen Reaktionen und starkem Juckreiz spielen.

• Lavendel Öl. Lavendelöl ist bekannt für seine beruhigende Wirkung und seine Fähigkeit, die Stimmung zu verbessern. Es lindert auch wirksam Schmerzen und Juckreiz, die durch Insektenstiche verursacht werden. Lavendel hilft auch, die Schmerzen durch Insektenstiche und -bisse, insbesondere Bienen und Feuerameisen, zu lindern.
• Zitronengrasöl. Die antimikrobiellen Wirkungen von Zitronengrasöl können dazu beitragen, die Ausbreitung von durch Insekten übertragenen Krankheiten zu verhindern. Eine 2014 durchgeführte Studie zeigte, dass eine im Zitronengrasöl enthaltene Verbindung entzündungshemmende Eigenschaften haben kann, die bei der Behandlung von Insektenstichen sehr wirksam sind. Entzündungen sind oft die Hauptursache für Juckreiz und Schmerzen durch Insektenstiche und -bisse. Durch die Reduzierung von Entzündungen kann das Zitronengrasöl die Insektenstiche weniger schmerzhaft machen.
• Kamillenöl. Das Kamillenöl wird seit langem für seine beruhigenden Eigenschaften geschätzt. Diese Vorteile können Ihnen helfen, Juckreiz zu behandeln, den Sie nach einem Insektenstich oder Insektenstich spüren können. Mehrere Studien haben gezeigt, dass Kamille auch entzündungshemmende Eigenschaften enthält, was bedeutet, dass sie bei der Behandlung leichter allergischer Reaktionen helfen könnte, einschließlich des Brennens und Juckreizes, die durch Insektenstiche und -bisse verursacht werden.

Wie man ätherische Öle verwendet

Ätherische Öle werden auf natürliche Weise aus Pflanzen gewonnen, einschließlich Bäumen, Blumen und Kräutern. Sie unterscheiden sich von Duftölen und Parfüm, die oft mehrere andere Inhaltsstoffe enthalten.

Bei der Anwendung in Pflanzen können die ätherischen Öle Nützlinge wie Bienen anlocken und die Pflanzen vor gefährlichen Insekten schützen. Darüber hinaus helfen sie auch bei der Bekämpfung von Krankheiten und Bakterien. Befürworter ätherischer Öle glauben, dass Menschen von ätherischen Ölen genauso profitieren können wie Pflanzen.

Mehrere Studien deuten auch darauf hin, dass ätherische Öle zur Ergänzung herkömmlicher medizinischer Behandlungen beitragen und mehrere Vorteile bieten können, die eine Standardbehandlungsmethode nicht bieten kann. Dazu gehört die Behandlung von Insektenstichen und anderen Insektenstichen.

Auftragen ätherischer Öle

Die ätherischen Öle müssen direkt auf die betroffene Hautpartie aufgetragen werden, gemäß den Anweisungen, die in der Verpackung des Öls enthalten sind. Es kann auch nach Anweisung eines Spezialisten oder Arztes angewendet werden. Die Öle sollten nicht konsumiert werden, es sei denn, es wird von einem Arzt empfohlen.

Ätherische Öle, die Sie vermeiden sollten

Die folgenden Öle sollten nicht zur Behandlung von Insektenstichen oder bei Hautreizungen verwendet werden:

• Piment
• Lorbeer
• Benzoin
• Cassia
• Zimt
• Nelke
• Fenchel
• Für Nadeln
• Oregano
• Petersilie
• Salbei
• Fichte
• Thymian

Schwangere oder Stillende sollten vor der Anwendung der ätherischen Öle zur Behandlung der Haut zunächst ihren Arzt konsultieren.

Wenn Öle nicht ausreichen

Manchmal reicht die Verwendung von ätherischen Ölen möglicherweise nicht aus, um den Juckreiz und die Schmerzen als Folge der Insektenstiche zu lindern.

Hier sind einige andere Strategien, die hilfreich sein könnten:

• Anwendung eines topischen Mittels gegen Juckreiz wie Hydrocortison-Creme
• Galmei-Lotion auf die betroffene Stelle auftragen.
• Ein Haferflockenbad nehmen
• Verwendung von rezeptfreien Antihistaminika wie Benadryl

Wenn der Biss so stark angeschwollen ist, dass Streifen aus ihm herauskommen, dann ist das ein Zeichen dafür, dass er bereits infiziert ist. Gehen Sie in diesem Fall sofort zu einem Arzt.

Personen, die an schweren allergischen Reaktionen leiden, die zu Hitzewallungen, Kurzatmigkeit, Hautausschlägen und Erbrechen führen, müssen sich sofort in ärztliche Behandlung begeben. Ätherische Öle sollten niemals zur Behandlung allergischer Reaktionen verwendet werden.

Abschluss

Insektenstiche sind wirklich ärgerlich, besonders für Menschen mit trockener und empfindlicher Haut. Ätherische Öle bieten ein einfaches Gegenmittel gegen diese Stiche. Einige Öle können auch helfen, Insektenstiche zu verhindern, und laut vielen Forschungsstudien sind Zitronen-Eukalyptus-, Neem-Öl und Citronella-Öle wirksam bei der Abwehr von Mücken und anderen lästigen Insekten.

Ätherische Öle sind wirksam und kraftvoll. Die Tatsache, dass sie natürlich aus Pflanzen gewonnen werden, bedeutet, dass sie sicher in der Anwendung sind. Und genau wie bei der Verwendung anderer Heilmittel sollten Sie vor der Verwendung von ätherischen Ölen mit Ihrem Arzt sprechen, insbesondere wenn Sie eine empfindliche Haut oder allergische Reaktionen haben.