how can i tell the difference between hives and bug bites?
482810
If you develop red bumps on your skin that get larger, change shape, or spread from one part of your body to another in a short period of time, they're more likely to be hives. A small group or line of bumps that appear on one part of your body without changing shape or location are more likely to be bedbug bites.
122969
['red, rash-like marks on your skin.', 'small bumps that can become hard or inflamed.', 'irritation, itching, and pain near the mark, rash, or bump.', 'swollen or blistered skin near the bite.']
1092951
['Pronounced itching is the most common symptom.', 'The area of the bite may be reddened, flat, or raised; sometimes it resembles a pustule or blister.', 'The itch is due to the presence of the stylostome and usually is most intense within 1-2 days after the bite.']
886260
Hives are red raised bumps or welts on the skin. Hives (or urticaria) is a common skin reaction to something like an allergen (a substance that causes allergies). The spots can appear anywhere on the body and can look like tiny little spots, blotches, or large connected bumps.
1040197
Bedbug bites can be red and itchy. They're often in a line or cluster. Some people have a reaction to the bites. They can be very itchy and there may be painful swelling.
755487
Most people have minor reactions -- a little pain or itching; maybe a welt. If yours is like this, your doctor can tell if you're allergic to bees or wasps with a simple skin test that uses purified, freeze-dried venom. But if you had a severe or anaphylactic reaction, he may do a blood test called a RAST instead.
1079066
In the normal reaction to a bee sting, the skin is reddened and painful. Swelling and/or itching may also occur, but the pain usually disappears over a few hours. In the so-called large local reaction to an insect sting, the swelling, redness, and pain may persist for up to a week.
222194
Symptoms of hives include: raised circular weals that look like mosquito bites – these are red on the outer rim and white in the centre, and each weal lasts for around two to four hours (rarely up to 24 hours). Weals appear in batches or clusters, and as one batch fades away as a new batch appears. localised itching.
604863
Unfortunately, unless you have a microscope and happen to be an entomologist, you're unlikely to be able to tell the different types of bed bugs apart. They all have similar nesting habits and can cause the same kind of damage to your home. Their bites are also identical.
1219920
While both bugs' bites are red and small, flea bites are usually clustered or alone, and they come with intense itching. They're likely to be on the lower parts of your legs and ankles.
641829
['Prick or scratch test: In this test, a tiny drop of a possible allergen—something you are allergic to— is pricked or scratched into the skin. ... ', 'Intradermal test: This test shows whether someone is allergic to things such as insect stings and penicillin.']
739469
With an earwig pinch, you shouldn't be able to detect any puncture wounds near the site. You're not likely to have a skin reaction. Mosquito bites, by contrast, usually involve one miniscule puncture wound in the center of a swollen, itchy welt smaller than a dime.
1305539
Spider bites frequently leave distinct puncture marks. In contrast, bedbug bites normally appear as small red dots that may swell or itch, especially if you have been bitten by bedbugs before. The bites may also have dark red centers, but puncture marks are usually not evident.
1391478
One of the best ways to tell the difference between mosquito and bed bug bites is to look at where the bites are occurring on your body. Mosquito bites usually occur one their own in random and isolated spots. Bed bug bites, on the other hand, pop up in clusters.
855214
Symptoms of an insect bite or sting When an insect bites, it releases saliva that can cause the skin around the bite to become red, swollen and itchy. The venom from a sting often also causes a swollen, itchy, red mark (a weal) to form on the skin. This can be painful, but it's harmless in most cases.
64012
Welts or hives produced from the bites are itchy and painful, but scratching bitten areas should be avoided, as irritating the skin will prolong the symptoms, and open wounds caused by scratching can become infected.
208154
['Hives.', 'Signs of an infection, such as chills, fever, or sore throat.', 'Nausea or vomiting.', 'Muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also: Are more tired than usual. Have a fever.']