Our relationship with fleas has been tense for centuries. While fleas are a major inconvenience nowadays, they used to be one of the main harbors of the Bubonic Plague, commonly known as the Black Death which caused from 75 to 200 million deaths in about 4 years in 1347. Fortunately, we dont have to worry about the plague anymore, but fleas are known to be resilient and troublesome insects that can wreak a formidable amount of havoc in different environments. Fleas are parasites that can only live on the blood of their hosts, making it hard for them to ignore big and small mammals. Fleas are known to reproduce frequently if there are fertile. Unlike most common insects that bite, fleas have the highest chance of transmitting diseases between humans and animals.

Weve made a brief guide that should help you identify flea bites, treat them, and protect yourself from them.

Bite Symptoms

The flea bite is not only very itchy, but also the bite area may become a bit swollen and painful. Its important to be able to identify the type of bites correctly. You can click here to read more about the differences between flea bites and other common bites like mosquito bites. The ability to differentiate between the types of bites will dictate your course of action. Its not uncommon for people to have a rash or hives around the bitten area. Some sensitive individuals may develop a quick allergic reaction which may require medication. It may take a day for a lump or a blister to develop from the bite. Flea bites arent singular and youll notice that every bite is accompanied by an extra one or two around the legs and feet as thats the preferred biting location for fleas.

Bite Treatment

The first thing that you should do once you notice a flea bite is to avoid scratching it like there is no tomorrow. Scratching will break your skins first line of defense and could easily develop a bite into a serious infection. Use antiseptic soap to kill bacteria to avoid an infection. Since swelling is pretty common, you should use ice packs to combat it. Its okay to use anesthetic creams and calamine lotion to reduce the urge to itch. Common allergy medications like antihistamines can be also used to fight the swelling. If symptoms start to worsen or the wound starts discharging pus, its quite advised to visit a doctor as fleas can transmit serious diseases, tapeworm infections, and many others.

Getting Rid of Fleas

If you happen to have pets, then getting rid of fleas will include two different processes to completely eradicate them. Youll want to identify whether the pets are the source of the fleas by looking beneath their fur and investigating it manually. A popular indicator is when the pets are scratching frequently. You shouldnt be worried about the solution to your pets problem since it is quite easy and unharmful. Youll want to get your hands on some anti-flea shampoo and powder to ensure that you eradicate all the fleas that your pet has. Its advised to use flea collars as they prevent fleas from latching onto your pets by using safe insecticides that deter and kill them.

If your flea source isnt the pets, then youll want to make a full-on and thorough cleaning of your house. The first suspect is the carpets as fleas love to inhabit them as they tend to be safe hideouts. Use a vacuum to clean your carpets thoroughly and be sure to throw the container or sac of the vacuum outside so the fleas couldnt get back in the house. Since heat is effective in killing fleas, wash your bedding at the highest temperature possible to ensure a thorough eradication. If you are suffering from an infestation and cant control it, its recommended to use the help of professionals who will most probably be using powerful insecticides.

Precautions

Since its best to be safe rather than sorry, you should want to avoid having to go through this process as much as possible. Its recommended to regularly inspect your pets for fleas, vacuum floors and carpets, inspect carpets and rugs, especially if youve just moved in, and maintain washing clothes and bedding at a high temperature to ensure that fleas dont get a chance to lay eggs in them.

Fleas are very annoying pests that can really make your days and nights much worse if theyre left to their mischief. Its recommended to know the symptoms of their bites well, so youd be able to treat and protect yourself against them in the future.

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