Do Bed Bugs Make You Bleed?
WouterIf you have a bed bug infestation, you may notice stains on your bedsheets or clothing. Bloodstains caused by bedbugs are caused by their anticoagulant saliva, which keeps the blood from clotting during feeding. Even after you stop eating, some blood stains will still remain for a few hours after the bite.
Some bedbug bites cause only a tiny amount of bleeding. While this is temporary, it will show up on your bed sheet as flecks of blood. However, if you have a persistent infestation, the bleeds may turn into large, confluent clusters and may look like chickenpox. If left untreated, this can cause anemia and exhaustion. In severe cases, you may also develop blisters.
The blood stains are usually small and dark red. They are a result of bed bug feeding and can also be accompanied by odor and itching. They are often found near the foot of the bed and on the pillowcase. They also like to hide in the space between the pillow case and mattress.
Usually, bedbug bites don’t develop a ring-like rash. Instead, they produce itchy, red marks on the skin. Unlike mosquito bites, bedbug bites are not contagious. Most people have a mild reaction to them, but it may be severe in some cases. If you scratch the bites, you can get a secondary infection. Most bites, however, disappear on their own.
