Bed bugs are caused by an infestation of Cimex bed bugs that are brought into a home or building from another location. They do not appear because a home is dirty or because of poor personal hygiene. Most infestations begin when bed bugs hitchhike on luggage, clothing, bedding, or used or rented furniture.
Travel and movement between different places can make bed bugs easier to spread. Hotels, dorms, apartments, and other shared or multiunit buildings can be affected because bed bugs may move between rooms or neighboring units through corridors, wall spaces, and other small openings.
Once inside, bed bugs can hide in mattress seams, furniture, cracks, baseboards, and other sheltered areas near where people sleep. Their ability to stay hidden and survive for long periods without feeding can make an infestation difficult to notice early. Resistance to some insecticides can also make established infestations harder to eliminate.
To reduce the risk, carefully inspect secondhand furniture and belongings after travel. If bed bugs are suspected, professional pest-control assistance is often the safest approach rather than relying only on insecticides or home treatments.