What’s up with theses bites - spider bites?

[Anonymous]

Today my teen showed me about 6-7 bites that showed up on his chest/shoulder/arm a few days ago.

They are red, and bigger than bed bug bites - more like mosquito size. Def bites vs rashes.

He said a spider was probably in his bed ? Really a biting spider in one’s bed seems like an urban myth to me unless you live in a desert or rainforest or Australia.

Teen has spent no time outside recently.

His sheets only get changed monthly and his room could be cleaner - some dirty clothes pile up but it’s not gross.

Oh we do have dogs who are in our laps and on sofa blankets that teen sometimes puts on him.

Curious if anyone has ever woken up with bites that they attributed to spiders

[Anonymous]

No, a spider will not bite that many times. Also spider bites are easy to recognize as they have two puncture wounds similar to this ( : )

If there is just one puncture wound in the middle, and they are itchy, then mosquitos are the most likely explanation, especially if they swell larger fast with scratching.

If they are not itchy, and just one small hole in the center, then bed bugs is 99% the cause. .

[Anonymous]

Bed bugs or fleas are the most likely culprit. You need to to a deep inspection of his sheets and mattress before bed tonight.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies, and good to hear they are likely not spider bites.
They are itchy. They are not small like bed bugs or fleas. More like mosquitos. But there are zero mosquitos out now.
We have a big oak tree in our yard, and I have had a number of instances of oak mite bites over the years - usually in Fall or spring.
These bites seem similar. My oat mite bites were itchy and painful, and on my neck, chest arms.
Doesn’t seem like it’s the season for them now though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, a spider will not bite that many times. Also spider bites are easy to recognize as they have two puncture wounds similar to this ( : )

If there is just one puncture wound in the middle, and they are itchy, then mosquitos are the most likely explanation, especially if they swell larger fast with scratching.

If they are not itchy, and just one small hole in the center, then bed bugs is 99% the cause. .

Bedbug bites can itch like a mofo. Whether they are large or small is entirely dependent on how your system reacts to it. Some people have zero reaction, redness, or itch. Others have huge lumps. Most of us are somewhere in between.

Mind closely resembled mosquito bites, but were more clustered.

If there are several bites close to each other than bedbugs are likely. If they are scattered widely over a large area, less likely.

[Anonymous]

Bed bugs!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:oat mites.
Doesn’t seem like it’s the season for them now though.

They are just late summer and fall.

[Anonymous]

Lift up the mattress and look for little specks of blood. Use a flashlight at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lift up the mattress and look for little specks of blood. Use a flashlight at night.

I do this with a blacklight at hotels these days.
Didn't used to have to worry about bed bugs in the USA but in recent years it's a thing in all hotels, even 5 star ones, so I always ask to see the room before paying, and check it out.

[Anonymous]

BB are usually in clusters of three.

[Anonymous]

It could be oak mites but it seems a little early in the year for those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BB are usually in clusters of three.

This

[Anonymous]

Could be a rash, sounds like hives. Can happen from stress or infections or medications/allergies, etc.

[Anonymous]

OMG, go to the doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lift up the mattress and look for little specks of blood. Use a flashlight at night.

I do this with a blacklight at hotels these days.
Didn't used to have to worry about bed bugs in the USA but in recent years it's a thing in all hotels, even 5 star ones, so I always ask to see the room before paying, and check it out.

Thanks for the tip.