How do bedbugs harm people? - briefly
Bedbug bites puncture the skin, injecting saliva that triggers itching, redness, and sometimes allergic reactions or secondary bacterial infections. Repeated infestations can cause sleep disruption, anxiety, and reduced quality of life.
How do bedbugs harm people? - in detail
Bed bugs feed on human blood, delivering a series of physiological and psychological consequences. The feeding process involves piercing the skin with two elongated mouthparts, injecting saliva that contains anticoagulants and anesthetic compounds. This saliva triggers immediate and delayed skin reactions.
- Localized skin lesions: erythematous, raised welts appear at bite sites, often in linear or clustered patterns. The lesions may itch intensely, leading to scratching that can breach the epidermis.
- Allergic responses: some individuals develop hypersensitivity, producing larger wheals, swelling, or, in rare cases, systemic urticaria.
- Secondary infections: broken skin barriers allow bacterial colonization, resulting in cellulitis, impetigo, or folliculitis if left untreated.
- Hematologic impact: repeated feeding by large infestations can cause measurable blood loss, potentially contributing to iron‑deficiency anemia, especially in children, the elderly, or those with compromised nutrition.
- Sleep disturbance: nocturnal feeding awakens victims, causing fragmented sleep, chronic fatigue, and reduced cognitive performance.
- Psychological distress: persistent infestations provoke anxiety, embarrassment, and in severe cases, depressive symptoms or post‑traumatic stress.
Although bed bugs are not proven vectors of infectious diseases, their presence can exacerbate existing dermatologic conditions such as eczema or psoriasis by intensifying itching and inflammation. Financial repercussions also arise from the need for professional extermination, replacement of infested furniture, and medical expenses for treatment of bites and complications.
Effective management requires prompt identification, thorough cleaning of bedding and personal items, and professional pest‑control interventions to halt the cascade of health effects described above.