Biting Bugs and Lyme Disease: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe
Introduction
Lyme disease is often known for the common symptoms which are joint pain, fatigue, fever, and neurological symptoms– but little did you know that in chronic or later stages of Lyme affects the digestive system.
Many individuals with Lyme report ongoing stomach issues such as bloating, nausea, acid reflux, or constipation. Yet a lot of times, these symptoms are often dismissed or misdiagnosed.
Ignoring these signs delays processes of healing and might as well complicate your journey towards healing.
Let us explore the Gut- Lyme connection, common GI symptoms, and why your symptom timeline matters more than you might think.
How is Lyme disease transmitted?
Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria “Borrelia burgdorferi”, through an infected tick bite. It is possible to prevent Lyme disease by avoiding tick bites. In the majority of cases, a tick must be attached to the host surface for more than 24 hours. The chances of infection can be greatly reduced when the tick is removed within 24 hours.
During the bite, the bacteria travel to the salivary gland and enter the blood circulation through the site. Lyme disease cannot be transmitted through sexual contact, air, water, etc.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are tiny creatures that can cause itchy bite marks. These insects suck blood from human bodies and animals. When there is a bed bug bite, a reddish stain can appear. There can be a musty odor. Bed bugs can bite on distinct areas, such as the back, face, neck, legs, etc.
Patients experience a burning sensation, pain, itching, etc. Bed bugs inject an anesthetic that can cause numbness. In some cases, bed bugs can cause adverse reactions. Clinical signs of a life-threatening reaction include: (1)
- Trouble breathing
- Swelling of tongue
- Irregularity in the heartbeat
- Tiredness
Can bed bugs carry Lyme disease?
When compared to other human ectoparasites, bed bugs are not considered as vectors of infectious diseases. Bed bugs are associated with mental health problems, allergic reactions, and skin rashes. According to a study, it has been estimated that bed bug infestation was diagnosed in patients with higher eosinophil count and cellulitis.
Scientifically, there are no proven diseases that are spread by bed bugs to human beings. It is observed that some individuals may have an allergic reaction to the saliva of these insects. (2)
How to distinguish between a bed bug bite and a tick bite?
Bed bug bites:
The clinical symptoms of bed bug bites involve a small/raised bump that appears in clusters. There can be itching with no pain. The clinical symptoms may take around 14 days to manifest.
It is not necessary that ticks must always cause skin rashes.
An easy way to identify a tick bite is to check for the presence of the tick. Early symptoms can include the presence of erythema migrans rashes. Skin rashes can occur in approximately 70-80% of affected people.
These rashes occur at the site of the bite within 30 days. These rashes can enlarge and lead to a bull’s-eye appearance. (3)
In some individuals, Lyme disease can occur without rashes. Other clinical symptoms include:
- Tenderness in the joint region
- Dizziness
- Trouble breathing
- Numbness
- Tingling sensation
- Facial nerve paralysis
- Palpitations
Can bed bugs cause allergic reactions?
The two main species of bed bugs are Cimex hemipterus and Cimex lectularius. An allergic reaction involves urticaria which is characterized by inflammation and swelling. This may turn into bullous rashes, which are fluid-filled. These rashes can become chronic due to secondary bacterial infections.
In rare cases, asthma can occur in association with bug bites. The patient may experience low blood pressure and trouble breathing. (4)
What are the measures taken to protect from bug bites and ticks?
- Insect repellents containing 20-30% DEET can protect from bed bugs and ticks. If you are a person using sunscreen, apply it and wait for it to dry. Apply insect repellent on the exposed skin.
- Try to cover the exposed skin by wearing long sleeves and shoes, especially when you are going for a walk in the grassy area.
- If there is itching, you can use an ice pack or creams like hydrocortisone.
- Taking oral antihistamines can relieve the clinical symptoms of allergic reactions.
- You can use permethrin on clothes and boots for protection from tick bites and bed bugs.
- After coming from outside, inspect your body for any ticks
- Take a bath immediately after an outdoor activity.
- Avoid walking in risk-prone areas, such as dense vegetation
- Maintain your home clutter-free. Bed bugs find it difficult to hide when there is no clutter.
What are the early treatment options?
In case of being bitten by a tick, you should take action and eliminate it as soon as possible. Grasp the tick with the help of tweezers and preferably as near to the surface of the skin as you can. After removing it, wash the area with alcohol/antiseptic. Do not use petroleum jelly or any heat method to get ticks out. All these methods are ineffective and may also contribute to an increased chance of infection.
Once you have been bitten by a tick, you should observe your health condition and whether or not it has been infected. Attend medical facilities in case you experience symptoms like fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, body or joint pains, or a characteristic bull’s-eye rash. These are the symptoms that normally happen within 3-30 days after a bite.
Clinical symptoms such as facial nerve paralysis, palpitations, dizziness, or problems with breathing could reveal the fact that the infection has developed further and should be addressed immediately.
Conclusion
- It is important to be aware of bed bugs and ticks, especially when you are outside.
- Ticks can cause Lyme disease, which can affect the central nervous system if left untreated.
- Even though bed bugs do not act as carriers of the disease, they can lead to allergic reactions and discomfort.
- It is important to understand the difference between bed bug & tick bites to initiate proper treatment.
References
- Cleveland Clinic. Bedbugs. [Internet]. Cleveland (OH): Cleveland Clinic; 2023 [cited 2025 Jun 16]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17847-bedbugs
- Akhoundi M, Bruyndonckx R, Sprong H, Duvallet G. Bed bugs and infectious diseases: a review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 16];11:747033. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8569396/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): CDC; 2023 [cited 2025 Jun 16]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs-symptoms/index.html
- Nemeth NM, Duray PH. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases [Internet]. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 [cited 2025 Jun 16]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538128/
