They are apparent only if a special search is made at night. Superficially they resemble lentils, being round and flat. Awareness of the possibility of infestation is important because otherwise patients may be misdiagnosed as having scabies or other skin conditions or may be dismissed as being parasitophobic. As data on infestations are not systematically collected it is not possible to relate the increase in cases reported here to an overall trend, but it does raise the possibility of a real increase, which may be associated with international trade and travel. For patients presenting with nocturnally acquired bites or itchy rashes without obvious cause, bedbugs should be considered as a possible explanation and a search recommended.
Infestation is managed by applying insecticides to their hiding places.
A British record of Cimex lectularius. Insects, ticks and venomous animals of medical and veterinary importance.