Getting bites sporadically... Is it bed bugs????

[StressedandDistressed]

I moved to a new apartment on January 1st 2014 and three weeks into the move, I began having bites on my arm. I thought they were initially mosquito bites but then noticed two weeks later I had more bites, and two weeks after that more bites. The bites were coming every two weeks for about six weeks (three times total). The reaction was not like mosquito bites which get better after maybe a day in my case. Instead, these bites would heal in maybe a week! So anyway, to characterize the bites, they were basically huge round welts which were red, very itchy, and painful and warm to touch. The center of the welt is really hard. I checked and checked my mattress for signs of these bugs and nothing. No blood stains or fecal matter or bugs anywhere. I even bought double sided tape and taped all the sides of my mattress and bed frame feet to see if i caught anything, but nothing.

However, I was convinced I was getting bitten by bed bugs so I called my landlord and he sent over a bed bug exterminator to inspect. A guy came and inspected for about 20 minutes. He checked my mattress, springbox, headboard, and sofa thoroughly and found nothing. He said he didn't think it was bed bugs because there were no signs and since it was now the beginning of March, I should be getting bitten more frequently and not every two weeks like clockwork. He also said it could be maybe 1 or 2 male bedbugs which obviously can't reproduce. He advised me to vacuum and buy mattress covers. I bought a mini vacuum and vacummed my room and bought bed bug mattress and spring box encasements. This was around the 1st week of March. After doing that I thought I was bed bug free because I got no more bites. My boyfriend, sister, mom all slept on my bed on different days and none got bitten. We are now in mid April and the bites have resumed on April 15th! UGHHH! This time on my leg... I have enormous welts on my left thigh, leg and foot; 6 to be exact. Last night my boyfriend slept with me. He got no bites. I, on the other hand, slept with long pants and long sleeved shirt for precaution and got one additional bite on my toe.

I am going crazy! Help! Is it bed bugs? I have yet to find ANYTHING! Could it be something else like carpet beetles (I have hardwood) or dustmites? Could it be allergies? The building across the street from mine is going through major construction and renovation. Could that be the cause? If it is bed bugs, wouldn't they bite more frequently and not every 2-6 weeks? I went about 6 weeks bite free.

[KrissyW1977]

Hi there,

I, too, have been getting bites every 2 weeks for the last 2 months.  Usually just one bite at a time, and they don't look like typical bed bug bites (based on pictures i've seen) - mine look like mosquito bites, sometimes get quite swollen, and last for a week.

How did you finally determine you had bed bugs?

Thanks!

[StressedandDistressed]

I actually had bed bugs. Thanks for your help though.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Such a rash can be due to hives. Hives (medically known as urticaria) are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They have a tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours.

Many cases of hives are "idiopathic," meaning no cause is known. Others may be triggered by viral infections or medications.
So check out the medications, clothes or toiletries that you are using as these may be triggering the hives.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.