Treating and Preventing Flea Bites

With summer in full swing, fleas can start to become a problem.  After all, they don't call it the dog days of summer for nothing.  Flea bites are a common problem for people and animals, and are the result of fleas feeding on the blood.  While some people may only have a specific and very minor reaction to the fleas feeding site, some people will have a more drastic reaction that can lead to unsightly marks and potential scarring.  The unfortunate part of it is, you will never know how you will react until you are bitten.  Still, no matter what your reaction may be, there are ways to prevent and treat these injuries in your and your pet.  For starters, we'll say that you've already been bitten and cover the treatment options first, then later go into why you have the marks you do.

Treating Fleas Bites

When a flea bites, there are certain steps you should take to help prevent it from getting worse.  For most people, you will not get a single flea bite, but rather several.  If you think you may have flea bites, the first thing you need to do is make sure it was caused by a flea.  The picture to the right shows what a standard flea bite should look like,  Unfortunately, there are a number of other insects who can leave a highly similar mark, including flies, mosquitoes, and the ever dreaded bed bug.  The bite itself will look like a slightly raised bump, coming in either a whiter skin tone of a very red skin tone.  The coloration may spread outside the boundaries of the bump.  After a few days, they can turn into a scab or bloody spot, but this is usually due to scratching.  Here are the other tell-tale signs you have a flea bite.

1. Does your pet have fleas?  You can check them for fleas, flea dirt, eggs, or other signs of a flea infestation.  If they have a noticeable flea infestation, it is highly likely your bites are from a flea.
2. Check your mattress.  If you notice bloody spots under the mattress and in crevices, you may have bed bugs.  This is the most obvious sign of a bed bug infestation.
3. Have you been spending extended time outdoors?  Fleas are not likely to feed on a human as an initial host, so it is more likely something else bit you. 
4. Fleas will always start on your pet, then spread throughout your home, eventually biting you.  You will rarely, most likely never, be the first thing bitten in your home.  Start looking at the source.

After you have determined you have been bitten by a flea, it is then time to treat the source and the bites themselves.  As an important note, you will continue to be bitten by fleas as long as your pet and home are infested.  Eliminating fleas from your home is the first step in treating flea bites.
After you have been bitten, there are certain steps your should take to help ensure the best healing possible.  By following these instructions, you can help to prevent scarring and keep infection from setting in.

1. Wash the areas with warm water and antibacterial soap.  The warm water will help to disinfect, but may cause itching in the area.  Lather and rinse thoroughly, including a 6 inch diameter area around the bite or bites.  Pat dry.
2. When the itching starts, which it likely will, apply a cold compress.  This helps to reduce the itching sensation and the potential for scratching along with it.
3. Take either a topical or oral antihistamine.  This medication helps reduce the itching sensation, reducing the risk of an open wound developing and infection setting in.
4. Do not, under any circumstances, scratch your flea bites.  This will lead to them opening up, creating a compound wound, and creating the potential for infection.
5. Apply a steroidal or similar creme to help promote healing.  Most standard bug bite creams or medications should do just fine.

Most flea bites tend to heal within a week, but depending on your reaction, it may take up to three weeks.

Allergic Reactions to Flea Bites

Most people do not develop a very bad bite from a flea, but certain reactions in the human body can cause these very minor issues to become far more severe.  Most people do not fully realize just where the allergic reaction comes from.  Most people are not allergic to fleas themselves.  A flea secretes a certain chemical in its saliva that is used to keep blood flowing from an open wound while they are feeding.  The reaction itself is caused by the anti-coagulate and usually nothing else.  For others who have a more severe reaction, there are other things at work in your body.  If you have a dog or cat allergy, then your are more likely to have a more severe reaction to flea bites.  The reason?  You most likely were not the first thing the flea bit.  When the flea then bites you, you will wind up getting a little bit of dog or cat in you, leading to a more severe reaction.  An allergic reaction to flea bites in either case is not a very serious situation, and you will most likely only have a larger, itchier bite.

Remember, not all flea bites will display an outward symptom.  For many people, they may only have a slight red mark for a day and then be perfectly fine.  If you would like to keep from being bitten, fleas should be eliminated from your home as soon as possible.

FLEA'S another helpful hint to get rid of them

How to get rid of Sand Fleas?

There are different kinds of fleas, but the ones you need to get rid of are the most harmful ones, like sand fleas. These are extremely harmful because when they bite you, they cause serious problems and health risks. Sand fleas are sometimes called “hop-along” or “no-see-um”. As they form in huge numbers or into a large group, they will sting you and give you intolerable pain. When a sand flea feels it’s under attack, it’ll turn and attack you.
How to Get Rid of Sand Fleas
Controlling Sand Fleas Through Vacuum – One major step in getting rid of sand fleas is vacuuming. You need to vacuum every part of your house on a regular basis. This way, the population of the sand fleas is kept low. Vacuuming kills adult sand fleas, including their eggs. The only problem is, it’s not proven to kill the larvae. What you need to do then is to seal cracks after vacuuming. You need to make sure that cracks are eliminated because these are the spots where sand fleas love to breed.
•    Dealing with Eggs – Sand flea eggs are often laid on your dogs and cats. Once your dog or catcomes in contact with you carpet, the eggs are dropped on it. Vacuum your carpet by all means.
•    Managing Larvae – Once the egg hatches, it automatically becomes larvae, which look like worms with bristle-like strands of hair. The bristle-like hair allows the larvae to move around. You cannot find them in well-lit areas. You will find them along skirting boards, floor board cracks, under furniture, and in corners and crevices.
•    Getting Rid of Pupae – This looks like a caterpillar, and it also spins a cocoon. If you vacuum more pupae, the results are better. The cocoon around growing sand fleas is impervious to chemicals and is water tight, which is why vacuuming is the best way to get rid of it.
The Power of Steam Cleaning – If the infestation is already severe, then you may need to do some steam cleaning. Research shows that if you expose the larva of a sand flea to a temperature of 1030 degrees Fahrenheit, it will die, especially if you let it stay in that spot for an hour. There are commercial devices that you can use to create lethal temperatures. Since these commercial tools have a loose shaft, you can only make use of them locally. You should be open about the possibility that there may still be a sand flea under your carpet, or anywhere else.

FLEA'S

Flea Facts - Flea Information

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Fleas have been around for millions of years, sucking the blood of animals and humans. Fleas live on pets, mammals, in carpets, in sofas as well as other household and farm goods. In a typical room, 5 percent of the fleas will be found on pets, 10 percent flea cocoons in the carpets, 35 percent flea larvae and 50 percent flea eggs, again in the carpets.

The Flea life cycle is similar to the butterfly life cycle. Female Fleas lay eggs that turn in to grub-like larvae. The larvae then develop into pupae and settle inside a cocoon. They wait for a host to start their life and suck blood.



When something warm moves by the pupae, they unzip the cocoon and jump on the animal or human body. All this happens in three seconds and the flea can jump as high as four feet.

Fleas feed on blood, and a flea can live without a blood meal for 100 days. A female has to have a blood meal to lay eggs. In addition, it lays eggs within 36-48 hours of having the first blood meal. A female flea can lay 2,000 eggs in her lifetime.

Fleas are very tiny creatures, the adults average 1/8th of an inch in size. They have a flat body from side to side, with piercing mouths that help them in sucking blood. Fleas are often confused with bed bugs, lice and ticks. However, fleas are reddish brown to black in appearance, and they are also wingless.



It is important to get rid of fleas by simple methods as these insects cause serious diseases. Plague, Murine Typhus and Tungiasis are the diseases caused by fleas. Fleas that are lodged on rats, often carry the bacteria, Yersinia Pestis, which is the bacteria that causes Bubonic plague. Plague is a killer disease and can spread widely in poor countries. Murine Typhus is an infection caused by Rickettsia, Rat fleas called Xenopsilla Cheopis transmit this. Tungiasis is caused by the Chigger flea, and they can cause serious damage to the feet as the female species burrow into the feet and breeds there. Their feeding under the skin causes severe infection and irritation. The fleas are removed by surgery. Fleas also transmit Tularemia and tapeworms to humans as well as pets. Other than these diseases, fleas also can cause allergies to both humans and pets.

However, there is no need to worry, as there are many solutions to get rid of fleas. You can take up the responsibility of removing fleas yourself or if the problem is severe and you are not comfortable with dealing with chemicals that may be toxic, then pest control professionals are there to help you in wiping out fleas from your house and surroundings.

Remember that adult fleas go through stages including adults, pupae, larvae and eggs. Fleas in all stages should be killed to rid your house of them completely. Resistive pupae and larvae grow on to become adult fleas in a few weeks even though the adult fleas are killed. Fleas should be removed from all stages in their life cycle, to protect your family and pets. 

FLEA'S

FLEA's - what is everyone doing to get rid of Flea's?
I have a St. Bernard, and two cats. They have not been allowed in the house I have Bombed the house 2x's.
I am gonna have to do it again Because I forgot to pull the cushions off the couch when I bombed for them. The animals are getting treatment from the Doc.'c Does anyone have any ideals to give everyone. Flea's..... I hate them....