臭虫是专性的食血(仅摄食血液)寄生虫。[2]Goddard J, deShazo R. Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) and clinical consequences of their bites. JAMA. 2009;301:1358-1366.http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=183643http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19336711?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Burnett JW, Calton GJ, Morgan RJ. Bedbugs. Cutis. 1986;38:20.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3731861?tool=bestpractice.com 臭虫是夜行性的(活跃于夜间),且它们更愿意在宿主活动极少时进食。[3]Reinhardt K, Siva-Jothy MT. Biology of the bedbugs (Cimicidae). Ann Rev Entomol. 2007;52:351-374.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16968204?tool=bestpractice.com叮咬反应的范围从无反应或最小反应到更典型的瘙痒、红斑和丘疹或较不常见的荨麻疹和过敏性反应。这些皮肤反应最可能是宿主对寄生虫唾液蛋白的免疫反应。[5]Thomas I, Kihiczak GG, Schwartz RA, et al. Bedbug bites: a review. Int J Dermatol. 2004;43:430-433.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15186224?tool=bestpractice.com一些个体不发生反应且不出现症状。一般认为丘疹性荨麻疹是由 (Ig) G 介导的对唾液蛋白产生的反应。[2]Goddard J, deShazo R. Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) and clinical consequences of their bites. JAMA. 2009;301:1358-1366.http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=183643http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19336711?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Abdel-Naser MB, Lotfy RA, Sayed Ali NM, et al. Patients with papular urticaria have IgG antibodies to bedbug (Cimex lectularius) antigens. Parasitol Res. 2006;98:550-556.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16425065?tool=bestpractice.com 大疱性反应,尽管罕见,可能是由 IgE 介导的对nitrophorin的超敏的反应,该物质运输臭虫唾液含有的一氧化氮。[2]Goddard J, deShazo R. Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) and clinical consequences of their bites. JAMA. 2009;301:1358-1366.http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=183643http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19336711?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Heymann WR. Bedbugs: a new morning for the nighttime pests. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;60:482-483.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19231644?tool=bestpractice.com[14]Liebold K, Schliemann-Willers S, Wollina U. Disseminated bullous eruption with systemic reaction caused by Cimex lectularius. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2003;17:461-463.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12834463?tool=bestpractice.com[15]Leverkus M, Jochim RC, Schäd S, et al. Bullous allergic hypersensitivity to bedbug bites mediated by IgE against salivary nitrophorin. J Invest Dermatol. 2006;126:91-96.http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v126/n1/full/5700012a.htmlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16417223?tool=bestpractice.com