Do fleas bite people: bites from cat and dog fleas

1. Fleas attacking humans
2. Dangerous types of parasites
3. How a flea bites through skin
4. What do bite marks look like?
5. The danger of flea bites for people
6. How to protect yourself from insects
7. Preventive measures against fleas

Like other blood-sucking insects, fleas feed only on blood. The structure of the oral apparatus does not allow them to use other food. Therefore, the answer to the question whether fleas can bite humans will be positive. People are willingly bitten even by those that parasitize other warm-blooded animals: cats, dogs, rodents or birds. But there is a species that specializes specifically in humans - this is the human flea.

Fleas attacking humans

People are usually bitten by fleas that live on pets. They transfer to humans from the fur of pets. But these species prefer the blood of their primary hosts for the following reasons:

• The body temperature of animals is higher than that of humans;
• they are covered with fur, where it is easy to hide;
• The animal's skin is easier to bite through.

When the host is not around, the hungry parasites attack people.

Human fleas are adapted to live in human homes. Their mouthparts are designed to bite through the skin of humans, although in rare cases they also bite small animals.

These insects do not live on a person constantly, like lice, they attack him, get drunk with blood and leave the body. The rest of the time, parasites live under baseboards, in floor crevices and other secluded places. Their body length reaches 3 mm, which is longer than that of insects living in animal fur.

Causes of flea infestations and locations of dislocations

The sources of insects are often:

• Damp basements;
• Neighboring apartments with pets whose owners are in no hurry to get rid of parasites;
• Mice and rats;
• Animals, not only dogs and cats, but also poultry;
• A person who can bring them from the street on clothes.

As soon as earth fleas appear in the house, they immediately spread to secluded places on the floor (behind baseboards, between parquet boards, under carpets, and dog bedding is their favorite place).

Dangerous types of parasites

In addition to human fleas, people are exposed to flea bites of the following types:

• Canine. They bite especially often due to the fact that a large number of parasites live on dogs. These animals easily become infected with fleas on the street and pass them on to people. Parasites enter the human body when he comes into contact with an animal. It is enough to pet a stray dog ​​for the fleas to cling to the clothes, after which they are brought home.
• Feline. This type of parasite is found throughout the world. They willingly settle and breed in apartments. In the absence of cats, fleas attack people.
• Rat. The most dangerous species, whose representatives carry deadly infectious diseases. They are rarely found in cities and bite rural residents.
• Rabbit. They are also a common species, but they bite people less often.

Any flea that finds itself on a human body will bite, regardless of what species it belongs to. Even those that parasitize mice or birds are capable of biting through the skin. A bloodsucker that attacks a person bites him 1 to 3 times. He leaves the body when he is satisfied.

How fleas bite

If we have figured out the question of whether fleas can bite people, it remains unclear how they do it. The parasite's oral apparatus is like a needle. The flea pierces the skin with the tip and then takes out the capillary itself. If it is not possible to gain access to the bloodstream, the parasite is forced to penetrate deeper into the human skin.

Flea saliva contains special substances that prevent blood clotting and facilitate the feeding process. At the moment of vinegar, a person feels a burning sensation and pain. These symptoms may persist for a long time. When fleas infest, red spots remain on the surface of the skin that are visible to the naked eye.

In order not to confuse a flea bite with other skin problems, you should pay attention to some features:

• the bite site swells quickly;
• unbearable itching occurs;
• the affected area is often the limbs, less often the lower back and neck;
• fleas usually bite two or three times in a row, causing paired wounds.

If dog fleas bite people, there is a high probability of infection with worms or fungal infections, which are widespread in pets. This is why it is important to promptly treat your own animals if they are found to have fleas.

Every dog ​​or cat owner should think: “what will happen if the parasite bites me.” The consequences are unpredictable. The fact is that before attacking a pet, a flea can taste the blood of a variety of flora representatives, including sick and dead animals.

How a flea bites through skin

The insect has long jaws that, when folded, resemble a needle. The flea pierces the skin with them, reaches the capillaries and drinks blood. The blood vessels are located deep, and to reach them, the insect inserts its head and part of the body into the tissues of the body. When the parasite sucks blood, it assumes an upright position.

Like other blood-sucking insects, when bitten, along with saliva, a flea injects a composition into the victim’s tissues that prevents the blood from clotting. This makes the process of sucking it out easier. Unlike mosquitoes, it does not inject an anesthetic into the frame, and when a flea bites a person experiences a sensation reminiscent of a needle prick. But thanks to its strong chitinous shell, the insect is not afraid of blows and scratching of the bitten victim.

Why don't fleas bite all people?

There are often situations when within the same family some are bitten and others are not. And this becomes a real mystery. Experts have their own explanation for this.

One theory says that blood-sucking insects bite according to their blood type. For example, they simply adore people with the first blood group. For them she is the sweetest. Those who have the 3rd or 4th blood group do not have to worry, because insects are not interested in this.

People with thin skin also become victims of fleas. After all, it is difficult for insects to bite through the cover to get to blood vessels. Therefore, the thinner the obstacle, the more attractive it is.

In general, the conversation about fleas not biting anyone is wrong. Fleas bite everyone. However, there are those who react and those for whom such bites go unnoticed. For example, people prone to various types of allergies will react to flea bites. Even if it is local and not pronounced.

What do bite marks look like?

Flea bites have the following characteristics:

• The parasites bite the legs of a sitting and standing person, and the neck and arms of a sleeping person;
• after a bite, a swelling forms on the skin with a point where the skin is damaged;
• Next to the mark there are usually one or two more, since the flea sequentially bites the skin in 2-3 places located at a short distance from each other.

The itching and pain from flea bites is superior to mosquito bites. They don't take long to heal. But not all people are equally sensitive to damage caused by fleas. Some people wonder why insects bite them and others don’t. This impression is deceptive, since fleas do not select victims according to any criteria. They bite everyone, but not every person feels pain from the bites.

Earth flea bites: symptoms and treatment

Useful recommendations will help you cope with unpleasant sensations and disinfect the wound:

• Wash the damaged area of ​​skin under running water and treat with soap;
• lubricate the bite site with any antiseptic, iodine, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide will do;
• dilute water and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio, lubricate the sore spot with the resulting solution;
• Some medications will help relieve swelling and itching: Panthenol, Psilo-Balm, Rescuer;
• local allergic reactions are suppressed by effective ointments: Fenistil Gel, hydrocortisone ointment, Soventol;
• for extensive allergic reactions, take one tablet of Diazolin or Suprastin. Then consult a doctor; in serious situations, call an ambulance at home.

A set of healing recommendations will quickly relieve discomfort and symptoms. Having improved your well-being, start destroying the bloodsuckers, otherwise such manipulations will have to be done every day.

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The danger of flea bites for people

Fleas are dangerous insects that can cause great harm to their victims. Their bites lead to the following diseases:

• Allergy to blood thinning enzyme. This is severe itching and redness at the site of the bite, lasting for several days, and a rash all over the body. In severe cases, the lymph nodes become enlarged, body temperature rises, angioedema and anaphylactic shock occur.
• Causative agents of dangerous diseases that enter with saliva. Fleas carry deadly infections: typhus, salmonellosis, plague.
• Helminth eggs. Parasites infect humans with tapeworms, pumpkin tapeworms and other helminths that enter the body through a bite.
• Wound infection. When scratching, an infection enters the bite site and the wounds fester.

Fleas pose a great danger to children and pregnant women. Children who love to play with pets are especially often bitten by these parasites. Children scratch the bites, which causes them to become infected and take a long time to heal.

To reduce pain and prevent infection, bite marks are treated with preparations containing alcohol. If signs of allergy appear, take antihistamines. If swelling and other manifestations of strong reactions appear, then seek medical help.

Treatment methods

If cat and dog fleas bite people, the damage is treated with an antiseptic:

• hydrogen peroxide,
• chlorhexidine,
• green solution.

In case of severe itching, the skin of bitten people is treated with Fenistil or Psilo-balm gel. Take a tablet of Suprastin or Citrine orally. It is not necessary to go to the hospital. Medical attention is needed if a severe allergic reaction develops. Folk remedies are effective for flea bites. Aloe juice and tea tree oil are used to disinfect wounds. Compresses with potato juice will help relieve itching.

Flea bites are uncomfortable, but they do not pose a health risk. If insects are found in the apartment, the premises and animals are sanitized.

How to protect yourself from insects

There is an opinion that fleas are found only in cluttered rooms where the floors are not washed for a long time. This is not true; parasites thrive in clean places. But still, they prefer to live where there are a lot of old things and where to hide.

Fleas live a long time, up to one and a half years, and manage to lay 2000 eggs. Reproduction occurs in geometric progression, and if a couple of these insects get into the house, very soon a crowd of hungry parasites will appear there.

To get rid of fleas, perform general cleaning. Vacuum all surfaces, wash floors with water with the addition of ammonia, carefully treating areas in corners and near baseboards.

But parasites cannot be removed with just washing the floors; on the contrary, they like a warm and humid environment. To exterminate insects, it is necessary to use insecticides in the form of aerosols and powders. Pets are treated with special products, their bedding is cleaned or changed. The room is sprayed with aerosol preparations or powders are scattered.

The basements of multi-story buildings often become breeding grounds for fleas, from where they penetrate into apartments. To get rid of parasites, you will need the help of a sanitary and epidemiological station.

Why are earth fleas called cellar fleas?

When cold weather sets in, fleas move under fallen leaves or into the top layer of soil, and with the onset of warmth, they crawl out in search of food and breeding sites. These insects can feed on any organic matter. There is nothing special about how fleas of this species reproduce, except that sometimes the process of turning a larva into an adult can be delayed due to lack of nutrition. This shortens the lifespan of parasites and prevents them from laying a large number of eggs.

It is no coincidence that precisely during their activation, the question of how to deal with earthen fleas becomes more relevant, because they move long distances with high jumps and often end up in dusty basements, which is why they are often called basement fleas. And, if they are infested in the basement, then you can soon notice fleas in the apartment. Residents of private houses especially suffer from their invasion. Earth fleas create no less problems for owners of apartments located on the first floors of high-rise buildings.

Preventive measures against fleas

The following steps will help keep jumping bloodsuckers out of your home:

• Regularly check the condition of pets, put flea collars on them and treat them with flea products.
• Maintain cleanliness and order in the home, avoid cluttering with old things.
• When going out into nature, they use powerful anti-mosquito repellents, which they spray on their hands and feet. This will repel fleas perfectly.
• Twigs of wormwood placed around the house have the same effect on parasites.

Fleas are dangerous blood-sucking insects that attack people and animals. Parasites that enter human habitation multiply quickly and are difficult to remove. To prevent the appearance of fleas, keep the house clean and carry out preventive measures.

Effective methods of controlling parasites

How to get rid of earthen fleas in an apartment? Recommendations:

• put a cloth or white paper on the floor, periodically examine the material, if you can see black dots on them that are actively moving, immediately start baiting fleas;
• examine your pet. The presence of fleas indicates constant anxiety of the animal. Part the fur, examine the area of ​​the ears and neck; if there are parasites, you can see them;
• the presence of red spots on the body (especially on the legs) indicates proximity to parasites. Do not scratch wounds, try to quickly get rid of insects, returning the joy of life.

Preparing for home treatment

Preparing a room for processing includes several stages:

• do a general cleaning of the apartment. First, vacuum and mechanically remove most of the parasites. Pay special attention to baseboards, cracks in the floor, and other nooks and crannies. Then do a wet cleaning with soapy water. Wipe all surfaces in the room with the product, do not rinse off;
• shake out all removable items (pillows, curtains, carpets) thoroughly, wash if possible in hot water over 60 degrees;
• Disassemble all furniture, thoroughly treat with soapy water, then with special products. Parasites are able to settle on the lower shelves of cabinets and bedside tables, fleeing from cleaning and insecticides;
• send all household members for a walk, take even indoor plants outside;
• Protect your respiratory tract and skin from chemicals by wearing rubber gloves and a gauze bandage.

Only after following the above recommendations, start exterminating earthen fleas. Without following the useful recommendations, the effectiveness of the efforts invested in baiting the bloodsuckers will leave much to be desired.

Application of insecticides

How to get earth fleas out of the house? Experts recommend fighting parasites with the help of professional insecticides, which show the best results against earthen fleas. Preparations:

• Empire;
• Biorin;
• Sinuzan;
• Chlorpyrimark;
• Effective Ultra.

All drugs can be purchased at specialized hardware stores. Before purchasing, carefully read the instructions and follow these recommendations. Buy specialized products, they provide an almost 100% guarantee, unlike regular Diclofos. Professional preparations are sold in large packages, which are enough to treat a rather large room, while a can is only enough for 10 square meters.

If a room is re-infested with fleas, change the product, otherwise you will not achieve the desired result. Parasites can develop immunity to poison and calmly endure “attacks” with an already familiar means.

Pet handling

After treating the room, do not forget about your pets. A lot of parasites can settle on the fur of animals, then re-infection at home cannot be avoided. Use the drug according to the instructions, a week after bathing, put a special collar on the animal.

Modern products are impregnated with a special substance that repels bloodsuckers. Be careful, potent substances can harm your pet. A safer option is the use of sprays and foams, which include insecticides; they are allowed to be used regularly for preventive purposes.

Important! Select drugs that affect not only adults, but also their eggs. Destroying only fleas, leaving their offspring, will not give a positive result.

Traditional methods of destruction

Folk remedies that are absolutely safe for animals, do not emit pungent odors, but do an excellent job of accomplishing the task are extremely popular.

Proven recipes:

• build a simple trap: pour water into a small bowl, add five milliliters of detergent, and place it under a lamp. In the morning, collect dead individuals, repeat the manipulations until the parasites are completely destroyed;
• During warm periods, take all pillows and blankets out into the open sun. Such conditions are not to the liking of fleas; within a few hours not a single flea will remain on things;
• place dried tansy, wormwood, sage, and eucalyptus herbs throughout the apartment. These smells repel many insects, do not forget to change the bags with a natural remedy against bloodsuckers;
• The esters of these plants act in a similar way. Combine a tablespoon of the product with a liter of water, spray throughout the apartment, and repeat the manipulations a week later. During this time, most individuals will leave the house and will no longer want to return.

Prevention of occurrence

There are several ways to prevent flea attacks:

• regularly carry out general cleaning in the apartment, sort out old things, do not collect trash. Feel free to throw away unnecessary things, such manipulations will help protect against many insects that love chaos and the presence of secluded places;
• Carry out wet cleaning with aromatic substances (tansy and tea tree esters). These smells will add comfort to the house and scare away uninvited guests;
• take care of your pets in the house. Pay attention to the behavior of the animal, if the cat or dog itches often, check for fleas, and, if necessary, exterminate bloodsuckers.

Ground fleas are a solvable problem; start exterminating the parasites as early as possible and bring the job to an end. Following preventive recommendations will help you avoid a recurrence of parasite infestations.

For more ways to combat earthen fleas in the house, watch the following video: