Hello, I have been lurking these forums since October due to a plethora of bite-looking marks that appeared throughout my body in rows of 3. However, a trip to the dermatologist proved the "bites" to be a cause of pityriasis rosea, a month-long skin rash associated with a large "mother patch" and itchy, red spots that developed "scales". You can imagine the relief I felt when I was told it wasn't bed bugs. The fear of having bugs alone drove me into insanity, anxiety, and stress, especially given that my parents were very unsupportive of the precautionary measures I tried to take to get rid of them (we do not have the money for professional treatment).
However, I noticed a few red spots along my body. I brushed them off as mosquito bites, as there have been small flying creatures in my room (about 1 or 2).
But last night, as I was playing on my 3DS, I noticed what appeared to be a bed bug (from my heaps of research done before, I was sure of it) scurrying along. It seemed to be fully grown and was flat and circular. In a rush, I called my dad who squished it.
We inspected my bed; no fecal matter, no blood stains (apart from obvious stains, being female), no other bugs.
I washed my sheets in hot water and dryer them on the hottest setting.
I only have about 10 bites in total here and there, which become an open sore after being scratched. There do not seem to be any patterns, though I know there doesn't need to be to be bedbugs. There are mostly along my torso and genital area. (Upper thighs, above genitals, on chest and back) and maybe three on my neck. There are singular bites along both arms, about two on each.
I have tried to desperately rule bed bugs out of the situation. It would suck to have them after the whole scare.
I was thinking it could be fleas, given my (strictly indoor) cat likes to hop onto my bed and he hasn't had any treatments, but the single creature I found on my bed resembled a bedbug.
Maybe it was a single bedbug only, considering I have only few bites within a span of a week and a half and there are no other signs?
No one else reports any bed bug activity, including bites, in a family of 6 with 4 bedrooms. (I am aware that some people don't react either, but given there are 6 of us, wouldn't at least one other person react?)
It would really really really suck if I did have some sort of infestation. A few months ago I was dancing around when it was revealed I only had PR and not bed bugs.