A 38-year-old member asked:
How do bed bugs travel?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sarah Kohlanswered
Travel Medicine 37 years experience
In your luggage: Bed bugs live in the creases and folds of bedding, furniture, and baseboards. They feed at night while you sleep. Look for rust-colored spots on bedding or furniture. The bugs look like apple seeds. Keep your luggage on racks or in the bathtub away from their hiding spaces. When you get home keep your luggage outside and put all your clothing into the dryer (120 f) for 15+ min to kill bugs & eggs.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 27 years experience
Cimex lectularius or: The bed bug is a parasite that is nocturnal. It can be transported on your clothing, luggage, second hand furniture etc. You can even get it using public transportation. It can go up to a year without feeding, so that allows it to just sit and wait until it catches a ride on something or someone. If you live in an apartment complex it may move from one unit to another. It is an insidious problem.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Heidi Fowler commented
Psychiatry 27 years experience
Provided original answer
It hides in crevices during the day. At night it is attracted to the carbon dioxide that humans exhale as well the warmth emitted by our bodies. It comes out to feed on our blood.
Aug 3, 2013
Last updated Jul 23, 2018
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