Bedbugs are small insects that often live on furniture or bedding. Their bites can be itchy, but do not usually cause other health problems. Bedbugs can hide in many places, including on bed frames, mattresses, clothing, furniture, behind pictures and under loose wallpaper. Signs of bedbugs include: On white skin, bedbug bites usually look red. On black or brown skin, they may look purple and may be harder to see. Some people have a reaction to the bites. They can be very itchy and there may be painful swelling. A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is also possible but rare. How you can treat bedbug bitesBedbug bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so. Things you can do include:
A pharmacist can help with bedbug bitesYou can ask a pharmacist about:
Find a pharmacy Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
You may have an infection and need treatment with antibiotics. How to get rid of bedbugsIf you think you have bedbugs, you should contact your local council or pest control service. It's very difficult to get rid of bedbugs yourself because they can be hard to find and may be resistant to some insecticides. There are some things you can try yourself, but these are unlikely to get rid of bedbugs completely. Do
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Information: Find your local councilYou can find your local council on GOV.UK. Page last reviewed: 02 August 2022 |