What a Bedbug Is

A bedbug is a small (about the size of a pencil eraser), flat, reddish-brown bug that can be found in homes all over the world. It hides during the day and comes out during the night to look for blood. A bedbug has a special ingredient in its saliva (spit) that keeps blood from clotting while it's eating.

What a Bedbug Bite Looks and Feels Like

If a person gets bitten by a bedbug, the bite will feel itchy. Bedbug bites look like little red bumps (similar to mosquito bites) and they can sometimes occur in a line on the body.

What You Should Do

If you think you've been bitten by a bedbug, wash the bites with soap and water. Put on some calamine lotion to help with the itching. An adult can find an anti-itch cream at the drugstore for you. Try not to scratch the bites too much because this can make them become infected.

What a Doctor Will Do

If you get an infection from scratching bedbug bites, a doctor will need to prescribe medication to clear up the infection.

How to Avoid Getting Bitten

The best way to avoid getting bitten by bedbugs is to keep your room uncluttered so bedbugs won't have places to hide. Changing your sheets once a week and vacuuming the floor are also important things to do. If you think you have bedbugs, ask an adult about the best way to get rid of the bugs.

Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: September 2010