Why do bed bugs bite only one person in a family?

Bed bugs are notorious for the itchy bites they leave on people when they feed. While they’re a problem overall, why do they sometimes only bite certain people and not others? Learn more about these pests and why sometimes it appears that bed bugs bite only one family member. 

Do Bed Bugs Bite Only One Person?

When bed bugs are in your home, it might not seem like a problem that affects the whole family. You or another family member might be the only one who ends up covered in bites. Even if you have a spouse in the same room with you, these bugs might seem to only prefer feeding on you during the night. Is that what’s really going on?

While it might seem like this happens, it’s not quite what it seems. You may wake up covered in bites, while other family members seem perfectly fine.

Are the bed bugs in your home really only targeting you?

Is there something about you that attracts these pests? 

You might be relieved to know that bed bugs don’t actually target certain individuals in a home. These bugs aren’t picky about who they bite, so you can bet that they’re feeding on everyone in your home. Even though you may be the only person who seems to have bites. 

Bed bug bites cause reactions in certain people who are sensitive or allergic to them. These bites leave reddish, itchy bumps on your skin if your immune system treats bed bug saliva as a threat. Other people may not have these reactions. Even though bed bugs have fed on them, they don’t leave these bumps behind as evidence. 

This can make it hard to determine if you have a problem. You might think you’re having an allergic reaction to something else in your home if you’re the only one with noticeable bites. If you’re not sure whether or not you really have bed bugs, you’ll need to look for other evidence. This might mean checking your mattress and bedding for signs of these bugs, such as their actual presence or spots or markings left behind. 

Bed Bug Problems

Since you now know that all family members are being bitten when you have a bed bug infestation, it’s important to get help. These bugs can be very difficult to get rid of, and they can easily come back. At Budget Brothers Termite & Pest, we find them and ensure that all affected areas of your home are treated to prevent another infestation.

Bed bugs cause other challenges as well. The bites they leave on you can lead to secondary infections if you scratch them too much. This happens when bacteria get into your skin when you scratch frequently at bed bug bites. 

Another problem to keep in mind is that bed bugs are able to reproduce often and build up their population quickly. This can lead to a much bigger infestation in your home. Working with the pest control professionals at Budget Brothers will reduce your risk of developing a huge bed bug problem. 

If you believe you have bed bugs in your home, contact Budget Brothers Termite & Pest for help. Our pest control experts can eliminate them from your Phoenix home, so you don’t have to worry about bed bug bites.