Actions to Take if You Get Bitten by Bed Bugs While Traveling

Reports of bed bug problems are flourishing, and this should make vacationers extra cautious about choosing their lodging. Bed bug bites often take several days to manifest so it is sometimes difficult to determine the source of the infestation. However, if clusters of red pimples appear on the body while you are vacationing, it is wise to try to locate the source.

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If a hotel or inn is involved, the bites should be reported to the management, and if appropriate concern is not shown, a call to the local health department might be in order. Once vacationers become aware that they have actually become victims of these tiny blood-sucking insects, the following actions should be taken:

To Ease the Bites

Although bed bugs do not carry diseases and are not actually harmful to humans in any way, their bites can cause itching and irritation. The following suggestions are easy ways to limit suffering:

• Soothe the itch with a long bath, but keep the water at a medium temperature.

• Smooth on an anti-itch cream or lotion.

• Cover the area of the bites with clothing to keep scratching to a minimum, as this only aggravates the itch.

• Use calamine lotion to help dry the rash.

• Use a fan to relieve the itch and provide a distraction from it.

• See a doctor if a bed bug bite appears to become infected or if the rash does not dissipate within a week.

To Prevent Spreading the Infestation

Bed bugs can travel on almost any surface, but they particularly love fabric. If you know that you have come into contact with bed bugs during a trip away from home, the following actions are imperative to keep your house free of these pesky parasites:

• Leave suitcases with linings outside the home until they can be steam cleaned.

• Take clothing straight to the washer, and run through a hot water cycle. Then, place these articles into the dryer because heat effectively kills bed bugs and their eggs. Articles that cannot be washed in hot water should be taken to a dry cleaner.

• Disinfect purses, laptop bags or cases, gloves, and other items that might have touched the carpet or bedding in the infected room.

• Check your home carefully in the month following your vacation to catch early signs of a bed bug infestation, being especially vigilant in checking the corners of mattresses and the seams in all household upholstery.

Though bed bugs are usually more bothersome than dangerous, they can be difficult to eradicate once they have been brought into a home. It is especially important to be vigilant after any member of the family has been traveling. Unexpected guests can easily hitch a ride into your home without your knowledge.

This article was contributed by Karen Barnes, who writes for a website that has lots of advice on how to avoid bed bugs. She takes a bug spray with her whenever she travels as a precaution against being bitten.