As a general rule, bed bugs don’t actively spread known diseases. They’re not like ticks, where a bite could lead to the onset of Lyme disease. The bites from a bed bug can cause significant itching and other types of discomfort, but they typically don’t cause disease or infection.
That being said, someone who has been bitten excessively by bed bugs may scratch their skin to the point that it causes physical damage. This can, in some cases, lead to secondary infections. The damaged skin becomes infected due to the scratching and the bites, and that infection begins to spread. But it is still the combination of bites and itching that has caused this, rather than the bed bugs on their own.
They can cause allergic reactions
One thing to watch out for is that bed bugs will sometimes cause allergic reactions. Many people will notice swollen red spots where they’ve been bitten, and that’s a normal reaction. But someone who is allergic could have even more severe symptoms. In some cases, like when a person is having an allergic reaction to multiple bite marks at the same time, they may even need to meet with a medical care provider. As with any other allergy, this is something to take seriously.
What are your legal options?
If you have suffered physical harm due to a bed bug infestation, it may go beyond discomfort and itchy marks on the skin. You could have an allergic reaction or experience an infection, and either of these could mean that you end up in the hospital. It’s very important for you to understand all of your legal options, especially if you were in a hotel, an Airbnb, a rental property or somewhere similar when the infestation occurred.