Symptoms, Complications, Treatments and Drugs

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of bedbug bites will usually affect only the surface of your skin, revealing themselves as small itchy red bumps known as papules or wheals. You might find the lesions in a linear or clustered fashion, indicative of repeated feedings by a single bedbug.
Some people may develop allergic reactions or larger skin reactions such as:
Large, itchy wheals up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) across
Blister-like skin inflammations
Groups of small, swollen sacs of pus
Skin rashes similar to hives

Complications

You're likely to experience only the itchy skin welts that bedbugs cause while feeding. However, some people develop more complicated reactions to bedbug bites, such as clusters of inflamed red bumps, dilation of the capillaries under the skin, formation of pus-filled blisters and hives up to 8 inches across.
A rare possibility exists that anaphylactic shock may occur as an allergic reaction to the substances the bedbug injects while feeding.

Treatments and drugs

Treatment of bedbug bites is aimed at relieving symptoms. Bites usually resolve within one to two weeks.
Apply a topical cream, such as cortisone, to relieve itching.
Avoid scratching to prevent infection.
Consult your doctor if you have severe reactions. An oral antibiotic may be recommended if infection occurs. Oral corticosteroids may be recommended for severe allergic reaction.
Take antihistamines if needed to help relieve allergic reactions.
Once your symptoms are treated, you must tackle the infestation. First, you'll need to freeze pajamas, sheets and other bedclothes for at least 24 hours or launder them in hot water of at least 97 F (36 C). Vacuum the area of infestation daily and freeze the vacuum bags for 24 hours. Insecticide sprays such as dichlorvos, permethrin and malathion must be used around cracks and crevices in your home. Lawn and garden insect control sprays may contain these insecticides, and garden stores may have permethrin. However, this difficult task likely requires a professional inspection of the bedbug habitat and subsequent extermination.


Info provided by: MayoClinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedbugs/DS00663/DSECTION=symptoms