Fleas are very small insects, about a quarter of an inch in length. Another risk of flea bites mainly affects children. But your four-legged friends aren’t the only ones subject to fleas and fleabites. Treat your yard by spraying your lawn with EPA-FDA approved insecticides or use beneficial nematodes that devour fleas. The skin may become irritated and painful around the bite, and sometimes hives and a rash will appear. Once a flea attaches to a host, it will remain there, mate, and lay eggs for its entire life cycle or until physically removed by you, your dog’s vet, or your groomer. Use insect repellents that contain DEET 20 percent to 30 percent and wear clothing that covers exposed skin when spending time outdoors, Dr. Cohen says. “They can sit dormant for months to years, but when you come into a vacant house, the vibration sets off their hatching and within hours they biting and looking for a host,” explains Dirk Elston, MD, professor and chairman, department of dermatology and dermatologic surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. Most are simple infections from scratching the nagging itch, and oral or topical antibiotics will do the trick, says Elton. “The most common flea found on dogs is the cat flea. Declutter your yard by removing any unwanted items that may create hiding places for wild animals like rodents or possums. Here’s our process. Blisters form on bed bug bites but not fleabites. Groom your pets regularly using a flea comb. Bites will also tend to continue to occur during a home infestation. © 2004-2020 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Because their bite is more a cut than a puncture, the site may be especially…. The bites are often seen in large groups or in clusters. Treating a fleabite depends largely on whether or not it is infected and how much it bothers you. Fleas don’t care what mammal they attaching to. Flea bites often appear as groups of small scabs. Only treat your pet with recommended or prescribed anti-flea medication. And when they bite, it can drive you to distraction, Dr. Cohen adds. An OTC allergy medication can also help curb itching. Maintaining good hygiene in the home is crucial to make any flea infestations manageable. It is known as a fleabite-delayed hypersensitivity reaction, Dr. Cohen says. This can include swelling and itching. Fleas can survive for more than 100 days without a host. The pictured example is a severe case. Keep your pets on a healthy diet, rich in biotin, omega essential fatty acids and B-vitamins. (Learn the reason why your messy house is making you sick. Most people will not develop noticeable symptoms from a fleabite. Dog and cat fleas are, by far, the most common type. Both will itch, but bed bug bites can appear more inflamed. (Here’s a list of products that will help you get rid of fleas for your home and pets. The biggest difference between the two is the possibility of blisters forming on bed bug bites. Contact an exterminator to make sure you get the last of them, Dr. Elston suggests. Fleabites on humans usually appear around the feet, ankles, or legs. However, mosquito bites tend to be larger and do not appear in patterns. How is gum disease linked to inflammation, heart disease, cancer? They can be difficult to remove from the home and can survive for more than 100 days without a host. The bites themselves will be very small with a central red spot. You are too. “Fleas prefer dogs or cats, but if they need a blood meal and you are in their neighborhood, they will nibble on you before completing their lifecycle on a dog or cat,” he says. She has received numerous awards, including the Arthritis Foundation's Northeast Region Prize for Online Journalism; the Excellence in Women's Health Research Journalism Award; the Journalistic Achievement Award from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery; National Newsmaker of the Year by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America; the Gold Award for Best Service Journalism from the Magazine Association of the Southeast; a Bronze Award from The American Society of Healthcare Publication Editors (for a cover story she wrote in, How to get rid of fleas on pets and at home, How to prevent fleabites and infestations, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), list of products that will help you get rid of fleas for your home and pets, chemical-free bug repellants that actually work, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Should You Be Eating Chia Seeds? This includes long grass in your yard. They can live about eight days on short-haired cats and dogs and longer on long-haired animals. (Chiggers are also common in the summer. The vet can suggest a number of inexpensive and effective flea treatments. Here’s What Nutritionists Say, The 12 Most Dangerous Bugs to Watch Out for This Summer and How to Protect Yourself, 11 Best Anti-Itch Creams for Mosquito Bites, According to Experts, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Fleabites generally occur in small clusters on easily accessible skin. Raised spots on the skin that are red and itchy, The bites are typically seen on lower body parts like feet and legs, Some people are immune to the bites and may not show any symptoms, Scratching the bites can cause blisters, welts and serious skin infections, This one makes the first point easier to follow. (Also, here are some chemical-free bug repellants that actually work.). Fleas can be difficult to destroy, so people might want to consult a professional exterminator to learn more. Bed bug bites tend to appear in a straight pattern. They often appear in groups of three or four and sometimes appear in a line. Owning a pet increases the risk of a flea infestation, but it is not only pet-owners who are at risk. Although they can also appear anywhere, they are most likely on the face, neck, and arms. These bites tend to line up in rows of three or four, Dr. Cohen explains. This article covers everything you need to know about fleabites, including how to identify and treat them. Stop the itching with some, If cream or lotion doesn’t do it for you, there’s also. And fleas are loyal little buggers. ), If you suspect there are fleas in your home, it’s important to know what they look like, what a flea egg looks like, the symptoms, treatment, and how to prevent a fleabite. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. A flea’s life cycle comprises four stages: egg, larva (tiny worms), pupa (the life stage where they spin a silk-like cocoon and transition to adult stage), and adult. When walking your pets, avoid grassy trails where fleas reside. If you are not sure whether your home has fleas, walk around your home wearing white socks. “If you are sensitive because you were exposed in the first couple of years of life, you will get a much more dramatic reaction.” Treating this reaction usually involves daily antihistamines to stop the itch and topical steroids on the bites. “Historically flea bites have been extremely dangerous,” Dr. Elston says. All rights reserved. Fleas can also carry human diseases. A bed bug bite will look more like that of a mosquito with a large, raised, irritated area. These are allergic reactions and secondary infections. Washing your pet with soap and using a flea comb may be enough to help with minor infestations. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. “If the flea embeds its head into the skin, use a pair of clean tweezers and pull it from the skin,” Dr. Feely says. The most famous example of this was the plague. Humans are often the secondary options when it comes to fleabites, as they do not make good hosts. We recommend our users to update the browser. As many fleabites do not produce a reaction in humans, they may well go unnoticed. These are more of a threat to the health of your pet than any humans in the home. ), pull furniture away from the walls and cover exposed surfaces. There are a number of ways to rid the home of fleas. Remove items from the floor (feeding bowls, children’s toys etc.
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