Bed bugs seen in the seams of a sofa bed, in L'Hay-les-Roses, near Paris, France, Sep 29, 2023. SINGAPORE: Seen the news about a bed bug infestation in Paris? Or trending videos on TikTok of the pests scurrying out from under train seats in the City of Light?
Family doctor Lye Tong Fong said bed bug bites may be red and itchy like typical insect bites, and there are no serious complications for most people.It is “very rare” to go into anaphylactic shock because of an allergic reaction to bed bug bites, he added. Their egg cases are translucent, pale yellow and about 1mm wide, which can make them difficult to spot.
“Brush your fingers through, don’t be afraid to get bitten because the bed bugs don’t bite so fast. If there are any bed bugs, you’ll most probably push out some,” he added. Experts said that in changing rooms, travellers should ask for one as far as possible from the infested room or on another floor altogether - because bed bugs are known to easily spread through walls.Experts were split on whether store-bought insect repellents are effective against bed bugs.