Flea Bites vs. Bed Bug Bites: What's the Difference?

How can you tell if it's a bed bug bite or a flea bite? Flea bites are itchy, red spots that typically appear in groups of three on your feet and ankles. Bed bug bites, in contrast, are itchy welts that usually appear in a zigzagged line on body parts exposed when you sleep.

Bug bites are annoying for multiple reasons, one of which is that it's not always easy to know what kind of insect is to blame for the bites. Many bug bites look and feel similar, including flea bites. Read on to learn how to tell the difference between flea and bed bug bites.

Flea Bites 

Fleas are small insects that typically live on warm-blood animals like dogs and cats. Pet owners are likelier to get flea bites than others.

Symptoms 

Flea bites are itchy, red dots that tend to appear in groups of three on your feet and ankles. These bites can develop into papular urticaria, or itchy welts that can become painful and hot to the touch.

Do not scratch flea bites. Fleas carry bacteria that can lead to infections if the bites become open sores. Fleas can carry bacteria that cause plague and typhus, uncommon illnesses in the United States.

Infected flea bites cause symptoms like:

• Pain
• Pus that oozes from the affected area
• Redness
• Swelling

Causes and Risk Factors

Fleas are tiny insects that prefer to live on cats and dogs. The presence of pets can help you determine if you are dealing with a flea bite or something else. There's a possibility your pet has fleas if they are very itchy, if you see tiny dots on their fur, or if you see tiny insects on your furniture and other household items.

Fleas will resort to humans if they do not have another option. You might attract fleas, for example, if your pet has been away from the house for a while.

Treatment

You can treat flea bites with an oral or topical antihistamine to alleviate itching. A topical antibacterial solution can prevent infection and help soothe your skin. Make sure that you do not take hot baths or showers, which can irritate flea bites.

Bed Bug Bites

Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects that are typically found in dark places. These bugs usually bite and feed on your blood when you sleep. Specks of blood on your sheets can indicate bed bugs.

Symptoms

You'll only realize you've been bitten by bed bugs when small marks appear on your skin. Bed bug bites generally look similar to mosquito bites with a point in the middle (punctum), Tania Mucci-Elliott, MD, an infectious disease specialist at NYU Langone Health, told Health.

Bed bug bites also cause welts that:

• Appear in a line, often one that zigzags
• Are intensely itchy
• Are typically located on body parts exposed when you sleep

Although rare, an allergic reaction to bed bug bites can include enlarged bite marks, painful swellings at the bite site, and anaphylaxis. This potentially life-threatening reaction requires immediate medical attention.

Causes and Risk Factors

Bed bugs do not just live on mattresses. You may find bed bugs in the couch and chair seams, curtain folds, and between cushions. Bed bugs also live in the crevices of walls, John Anthony, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, told Health. It's important to know the cleanliness of living conditions does not determine the presence of bed bugs.

Bed bugs feed on human blood, but you likely will not notice when they bite. The bugs inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant, which prevent blood clots.

Treatment

You can treat bed bug bites at home by applying a topical corticosteroid to reduce itching. Make sure that you wash the affected area with soap and water regularly to prevent infection.

See a dermatologist if you have an allergic reaction, blisters, infection, or several bed bug bites. They can prescribe further treatment, such as an antibiotic or antihistamine, depending on your symptoms.

How To Get Rid of Fleas and Bed Bugs

You'll need a professional pest control company to treat your home with pesticides if you have a flea or bed bug infestation. Here are some ways to get rid of and prevent these insects in the meantime.

How To Get Rid of Fleas

Fleas have a long lifecycle, so it can be difficult to get rid of them. Make sure that bedding and pet bedding, edges of walls, and floors are clean. Fleas often breed in those areas. Bathe your pets with soap and water, and then use a flea comb to remove the insects from their fur.

How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Insect repellents are not very effective against bed bugs, so it's best to call a professional pest control company to treat your home. You may be able to get rid of bed bugs yourself depending on several factors, including the number of insects.

Follow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s step-by-step guide for getting rid of bed bugs, which include:

• Contain beg bugs with a vacuum.
• Identify areas where bed bugs might be hiding, including baseboards, bed frames, carpets, and other dark places.
• Make sure that there are no dark places where bed bugs may hide, such as in books, clothing, or cracks in the walls. 
• Move your furniture a few inches from the walls to make sure bed bugs cannot reach them.
• Throw away any items you cannot treat with a vacuum or heat.
• Wash your bedding and clothing in warm water and dry them in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes.

A Quick Review

Fleas and bed bugs are both small insects that cause itchy spots on your skin if they bite you. You can tell the difference between fleas and bed bug bites by where they appear on the skin: Flea bites usually appear on your feet and ankles in groups of three, while bed bugs appear on body parts exposed when you sleep.  

To reduce itching, you can treat fleas and bed bug bites with antihistamines and corticosteroids. Talk to a healthcare provider if you develop signs of an infection, including pain, pus, redness, and swelling.