Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans, but they can absolutely cause physical and psychological harm. Their bites leave itchy, red welts on many people. Some individuals develop allergic reactions. And the stress of a bed bug infestation can seriously affect your sleep and mental health.

What Happens When a bed bug bites?

Bed bugs are nighttime feeders. They emerge when you’re asleep, locate a blood vessel near the skin’s surface, and feed for three to ten minutes. Most people don’t feel the bite happening — bed bugs inject a mild anesthetic along with their saliva to keep you from waking up.

What you notice afterward:

  • Red, raised welts — often in clusters or a line pattern across skin exposed during sleep
  • Itching — can range from mild to intense
  • Swelling — the area around the bite may puff up slightly
  • Delayed reaction — some people don’t react at all for the first few bites; reactions can worsen over time with repeated exposure

About 30% of people show no visible reaction to bed bug bites whatsoever. That’s part of what makes infestations so sneaky — someone in your household may be getting bitten repeatedly without knowing it.

Can Bed Bugs Make You Seriously Ill?

The good news: as of now, bed bugs are not considered vectors for disease transmission to humans. Unlike mosquitoes or ticks, they have not been shown to spread pathogens from one person to another.

That said, they can still cause real health problems:

  • Allergic reactions — a small percentage of people have severe reactions to bed bug saliva, which can include hives, blistering, or in rare cases, anaphylaxis
  • Secondary infections — scratching bites breaks the skin and creates an entry point for bacteria. Cellulitis and impetigo are both associated with infected bed bug bites
  • Anemia — rare, but documented in severe, prolonged infestations, especially in infants, elderly individuals, or people with limited mobility who cannot escape an infested area
  • Insomnia and anxiety — the psychological toll of bed bugs is well-documented. Many people report anxiety, hypervigilance, and chronic sleep disruption long after the infestation is resolved

The mental health component is often underestimated. The idea that something is feeding on you while you sleep is genuinely distressing — and the stigma around bed bugs can compound feelings of shame or embarrassment, even though bed bugs have nothing to do with cleanliness.

Related Considerations: Pets and Other Family Members

Bed bugs prefer human hosts but will feed on pets if humans aren’t available. Children and elderly family members may react more strongly to bites, and people with compromised immune systems may be at higher risk for secondary infections.

If anyone in your home is experiencing unexplained itching, welts, or poor sleep, it’s worth doing a thorough assessment of mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. Look for:

  • Small dark fecal spots on sheets or mattress seams
  • Rusty or reddish stains from crushed bugs
  • Pale yellow shed skins (nymphs molt as they grow)
  • Live bugs — flat, oval, and about the size of an apple seed

Learn more about identifying bed bugs and signs of activity in our Learning Center.

When to Call a Professional

If you’ve found any of the signs above — or if household members are waking up with unexplained bites — it’s time to call a professional. Bed bug infestations do not go away on their own. They spread quickly and become exponentially harder to treat the longer you wait.

DIY treatments almost never eliminate a full infestation. Bed bugs hide in seams, electrical outlets, wall voids, furniture joints, and dozens of other harborages that over-the-counter sprays can’t reach. Misapplication of pesticides can also scatter bugs deeper into walls, spreading the problem.

Don’t let what starts as a small problem become a whole-home nightmare. The sooner you act, the better.

What Miller Pest Solutions Does About Bed Bugs

Miller Pest Solutions uses proven treatment protocols designed to eliminate bed bugs at every life stage — eggs, nymphs, and adults. We’ve been serving families in Des Moines, Kansas City, and Omaha since 2001, and we’re QualityPro Certified, which means our technicians meet rigorous industry standards for training and professionalism.

Our approach includes:

  • Thorough assessment to confirm bed bug activity and identify all harborage areas
  • Customized treatment plan based on the extent of infestation and your home’s layout
  • Follow-up to confirm elimination
  • Guidance on preparation steps before treatment and what to expect after

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all pest control. Every home and every infestation is different. Get the full details on our approach at the bed bug treatment page.

Get a Free Phone Bid

If you think you might have bed bugs, don’t wait. Call or reach out to Miller Pest Solutions today for a free phone bid. We serve Des Moines at (816) 420-0340, Kansas City at (816) 409-3884, and Omaha at (402) 532-8863. You can also request a quote online and we’ll be in touch quickly.