Siphonaptera (fleas) are a gaggle of wingless bugs that feed on blood. Fleas usually assault canine and cats, however people can even get bites. Flea bites might happen in your ankles, legs, waist, and different physique elements. They’ll trigger itchy, purple bumps, irritation, and swelling. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, prescriptions, and residential treatments can be found to deal with flea bites.
Monitor your pets for potential indicators of fleas to stop flea bites and associated issues. Flea bites are uncomfortable, however there are methods to establish the indicators and signs and discover aid.
Frequent signs of flea bites embody having small, purple, itchy bumps. Bumps and rashes may cause pores and skin irritation. In some circumstances, pores and skin swelling might happen.
Flea bites typically trigger papular urticaria, a continual (long-lasting) inflammatory illness that presents as a rash with small, raised, purple, and itchy lesions. The rash typically impacts the toes and ankles and may seem in clusters and linear patterns.
Bites from cat fleas have brought about some dermatitis (pores and skin irritation) in people. Signs of dermatitis brought on by cat fleas embody extreme itching, pores and skin irritation, tenderness, and ache from scratching. These signs are usually extra intense earlier than going to sleep.
Flea bites on people usually seem as three purple, itchy bumps in a row. They usually present up in areas the place garments might match tighter. Folks with an allergy to flea bites typically get blisters. Your major healthcare supplier or a dermatologist (a health care provider specializing in pores and skin, hair, and nail situations) can study your pores and skin and establish any potential flea bites.
Flea bites look totally different on pets. Should you discover your pet scratching excessively, fastidiously verify them for fleas. See a veterinarian for remedy choices in the event you see fleas of their fur.
Whereas the itching from flea bites can really feel overwhelming, there are a number of choices for treating them. A standard remedy is making use of Hydrocort (hydrocortisone) cream twice each day. Hydrocortisone cream treats dermatitis brought on by bites and minimizes signs after just a few days.
Different medicines and residential treatments to deal with flea bites embody the next:
- Totally cleanse your pores and skin with cleaning soap and water
- Apply chilly packs to assist deal with redness, itchiness, and swelling
- Take oral (by mouth) antihistamines, corresponding to Reactine (cetirizine), Claritin (loratadine), or steroids to alleviate itching
- Layer calamine- or pramoxine-containing lotions in your pores and skin to scale back inflammation and itching
Your healthcare supplier might take a pores and skin biopsy to analyze your dermatitis additional if they think different situations might have brought about it.
Fleas are probably the most energetic in hotter, humid months, corresponding to August and September. Discovering the supply of the fleas in your setting is step one to eliminating them. Having pets can enhance your danger of getting fleas
Take sure precautions to stop fleas from occurring within the first place:
- Deal with your pets with flea management medicine and verify for fleas
- Restrict your contact with wild animals open air
- Deep clear and wash areas of your private home the place fleas and flea larvae usually tend to be discovered, together with bedding and rugs.
- Often vacuum flooring, furnishings, and alongside the sides of partitions
- Spray pesticides (pet-friendly pesticides when you have pets) inside and out of doors the house
- Use Environmental Safety Company (EPA)-registered insect repellants containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), IR3535, picaridin, 2-undecanone, or para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD)
- Put on long-sleeve clothes, lengthy socks, and pants to attenuate publicity to fleas
- Deal with clothes, boots, and tenting gear with merchandise formulated with 0.5% permethrin
- Mow the garden continuously in the summertime
- Keep away from overwatering your yard
Flea bites can take just a few days to a number of weeks to heal with at-home care. See a healthcare supplier in the event you expertise worsening signs or, in uncommon circumstances, anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic response). Anaphylaxis signs embody breath loss, chest tightness, and rash or hives.
Problems from flea bites embody pores and skin infections and flea-borne illnesses (corresponding to typhus or plague) brought on by fleas that carry disease-causing micro organism. Kids have an elevated danger of growing flea-related sicknesses. Tapeworms (parasites developed from fleas) come from by chance ingesting fleas.
Secondary pores and skin infections that would happen embody cellulitis (a bacterial pores and skin an infection), tetanus (a bacterial an infection that causes muscle spasms), and gangrene (a life-threatening an infection).
Flea bites are small, purple, itchy bumps brought on by small, wingless bugs. Scratching flea bites can result in an infection, rash, and swelling. You need to use over-the-counter medicines like hydrocortisone and antihistamines to deal with the flea bites.
Often clear and verify your pets to stop fleas. Sustaining your yard and indoor setting can even assist forestall your pets from choosing up fleas and passing them to you.