Medicines for Bedbug bites

What it is

Bedbugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects that feed on blood, usually at night, and hide during the day in cracks and crevices near where people sleep — such as in the seams of mattresses, bed frames, headboards, and nearby furniture. They do not live on the body. Their bites often appear as small, itchy, red or discoloured spots on skin exposed during sleep (such as the face, neck, arms and hands), sometimes in a line or cluster, and reactions vary from none to quite itchy. Bedbugs are a nuisance and can be distressing and hard to get rid of, but importantly they are not known to spread disease, and the bites themselves are usually harmless, though scratching can lead to infection. They spread by hitching a ride in luggage, second-hand furniture, and clothing, which is why they can appear after travel or bringing in used items. Getting rid of them requires treating the home, not just the skin.

How it is treated

Managing the bites is straightforward: keeping the affected skin clean, not scratching (to avoid infection), and using soothing measures such as a cool compress, and antihistamines or a mild anti-itch cream if needed for itching. The bites usually settle over days. The more important and challenging part is getting rid of the bedbugs themselves, which usually requires thorough treatment of the home — washing and hot-drying affected bedding and clothing, thorough cleaning and vacuuming of the bedroom and hiding places, and often professional pest control, as bedbugs are hardy and hard to eradicate with DIY measures alone. Reducing clutter and checking second-hand furniture and luggage after travel help prevent them. If bites become infected (increasing redness, swelling, pus), a doctor can advise. The reassuring message is that bedbug bites are harmless and not a disease risk, but eliminating the infestation usually needs proper pest treatment of the home.