How to Help Your Child Who has Been Bitten by a Bedbug

A bedbug bite is different from a spider bite or a bite from a lice. If you see two or three bumps close together, it is probable that your child has been bitten by a bedbug. These bites cause itching and sometimes pain which can last a day or two. Sometimes blisters can form later.
It is generally known that a bite from a bedbug can be dangerous. It is therefore very important to make certain that your child’s bite is from a bedbug so that he/she can be kept away from this pesticide as soon as possible.
Now, the question is, how does one go about finding these creatures? Those who have made a study of bedbugs, know that they like to suck blood. This is how they stay alive. This is their food. They are very capable of finding their food, which is warm blood. They are aware when a warm body is close by, which is usually at night in a bed. They feed on a person’s blood for approximately 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
Bedbugs hide in crevices during the day because they don’t like light. Therefore, night time is great for them. What can be better for them than to be under the covers in a bed during the darkness of the night next to a nice warm body?
Now for the hard part. How does one go about finding these tiny creatures? First, it is good to know what they look like. They are red or brownish in color, oval-shaped and about one-quarter inch in length. They do not have wings. They are difficult to find, but since they don’t like light, turn on the lights at bedtime and quickly pull back the bed covers.
To get rid of the bedbugs and to keep them from returning, the best thing to do is to spray the bed with a 1% solution of malathion. If the infestation is light, spray only the bed. Wet the springs and the frame. Take off the mattress cover and wash it. Spray the mattress only if there are little seams where the bugs can be hiding. Use only a very light spray on the mattress if it is necessary for it to be sprayed. The mattress should not be sprayed if the child is five years of age or under. Malathion is dangerous if it comes in contact with the skin. As an adult, it is a good idea to use gloves when using this spray.
Since bedbugs like to hide in small places, it is wise to spray walls, floors and the furniture that are in the bedroom.
If you call a doctor, he may not be able to judge whether the bite is from a bedbug or another insect. If you have actually seen bedbugs, perhaps a description of them can let the doctor know if your child has been bitten by a bedbug or not. If by your description of the bumps and of the bedbugs, he/she may be able to prescribe some type of treatment.
Source: Dr.Robert Pantell, Dr. James Fries, Dr. Donald Vickery, M.D.’s authors of Taking Care of Your Child