Bed bugs
What are bed bugs?
Small insects that feed on humans. They are most active in the late night and can travel 10 to 15 feet to feed. Bed bugs can survive up to six months without feeding. The bites are itchy and often occur in a row on areas of the skin that are exposed during the night.
Signs and symptoms
- Itching
- Bites may have a red dot where the bite occurred in the middle of a raised red bump
- Specks of blood from crushed bugs or dung spots (pen point size) on bedsheets and mattresses
- Live bugs in crevices or seams of bedding and furniture
Incubation period
Bed bugs do not reproduce on humans like scabies or lice. After biting humans, they hide in crevices during the day. Bites are usually noted in the morning.
Contagious period and spread
- Children or staff members may bring bed bugs to school in bags and clothing.
- Bedbugs are not spread from one person to another and are not an indication that people or their homes are dirty.
Public health reporting requirements
The state health department does not respond to or investigate bed bug infestations as there is no evidence that bed bugs transmit disease. The presence of bed bugs in schools and child care facilities is not reportable to public health.
Control of spread
- Schools and child care facilities should develop a bed bug plan to coordinate their response to the presence of bed bugs in the facility. Plan stakeholders should include at a minimum the school nurse, faculty, administrators, and facilities staff. It is important to formulate a response strategy before an infestation is suspected or identified. Schools and child care facilities dealing with bed bugs brought in by a student/child or staff member should make decisions beforehand about how to handle privacy issues, parent/guardian notifications, and bed bug treatment/eradication options. The introduction of bed bugs into the school or child care environment is a complex issue and should be planned for appropriately.
- Resources for developing a bed bug response plan
Treatment
- Avoid scratching bites to prevent infection. Fingernails should be kept clean to avoid damaging and infecting skin due to itching.
- Steroid skin creams or oral antihistamines may relieve itching.
- Children with bug bites are not infested and do not require treatment to prevent spread to others.
Exclusion
None
Role of teachers, caregivers, and family
- The presence of bed bugs in a child’s home may be a significant stressor. Perceptions of social stigma and physical discomfort caused by bed bug bites can affect a child’s ability to learn and perform in the school environment.
- People may or may not develop a bite reaction following bed bug bites. For those who develop itching, scratching of bites may lead to secondary infections.
- School nurses and child care health consultants may need to assess students/children who display persistent scratching for insect bites or the presence of lice. There are no characteristics of bed bug bites that are diagnostic of bed bugs. Insect bites, in general, appear similar to one another. A history of exposure and discussion with the student/child is often required to determine that the source of bites is bed bugs.
- The school or child care facility’s bed bug response plan should identify resources for affected children (and faculty). This may include educational materials, social or environmental health services, or recommendations for the treatment of bed bugs. It is anticipated that recommendations and available resources will differ among school districts and child care programs.