A week ago, a friend kindly allowed me to stay in his old apartment while my own place was being renovated. Shortly after moving in, I began noticing clusters of itchy, red bumps on my legs and back. Since my daily routine—hygiene products, diet, and schedule—hadn’t changed, I suspected the apartment might be the source.
Before seeing a doctor, I searched online for possible causes—and one term kept appearing: bed bugs.
The apartment was quite old, and the mattress showed clear signs of long use. Though I didn’t spot any insects during a thorough inspection, I took precautionary steps: I left the mattress in direct sunlight on the balcony for a full day and layered it with extra bedding before sleeping on it again. Unfortunately, the bites continued, and I had no choice but to remain there for the rest of the week.
According to the NHS, bed bugs are small insects that hide in bedding or furniture. Their bites are not known to transmit disease but can cause significant itching and discomfort.
Not everyone reacts to bed bug bites, which allows infestations to go unnoticed. For those who do, common signs include:
- Small, red, itchy bumps – often in lines or clusters on exposed skin such as arms, legs, neck, or back.
- Delayed reactions – symptoms may take hours or days to appear.
- Possible allergic reactions – while rare, some people may experience severe swelling or more serious responses.
If unexplained bites appear, it’s best to seek medical advice for proper diagnosis and treatment. In the meantime, washing bedding at high heat, vacuuming thoroughly, and using mattress encasements may help reduce exposure.
