Fleas in humans: symptoms and treatment

Fleas have been “accompanying” human life since the very time when he had his first pet. Typically, these blood-sucking insects parasitize our pets - cats and dogs, and therefore we inevitably encounter them.

Although they adapt to specific animals, when there is a shortage of food, human blood is quite suitable for parasites. Therefore, our article is about what the insect is and how it spreads, what harm it causes to humans, and whether it is possible to get rid of fleas once and for all.

Appearance of a flea

These are small insects, so it is not always possible to notice them right away. Flea bites are painful, and the site of the bite is “marked” by a pink spot. The body of a flea is on average from 1 to 5 mm, but a well-fed insect has a stretched abdomen, due to which the size increases to 1 cm. The fertilized female reaches a large size - up to 1.5 cm. The body is divided into a head and abdomen, protected by a chitinous shell.

Under a microscope, a flea resembles a shrimp. This is the most convenient body shape, as it helps to move faster through fur or feathers and hide in secluded places. Three pairs of strong limbs allow her to move by jumping. The limbs have claws so that they can cling to fur or any surface.

This is interesting: The lifespan of the parasite ranges from several months to 3 years. How long an insect lives depends on the ambient temperature. High temperatures shorten life expectancy, low temperatures prolong it, since in cool conditions the life cycle proceeds slowly.

The eyes are located on the head, above which are antennae. They are needed so that the male can hold the female during mating. The rest of the time they do not play any role. The spines and bristles covering the skin are a kind of protection, making it almost impossible to comb out a flea.

The color of the parasite varies from yellowish to brown and black. The piercing-sucking mouthparts are designed for feeding. The stylet at the base helps to bite through the host's skin, increasing the size at the site of the bite. The flea injects saliva into the wound to prevent the blood from clotting. She penetrates there with her whole body in search of a blood vessel. The parasite becomes completely saturated in one bite, increasing in size.

This is interesting: Fleas have a special sensory organ - the pygidium, located on the abdomen, in its rear part. The pygidium is covered with hairs that are sensitive and react to any air vibrations, giving a warning signal of danger.

What do fleas eat

The flea feeds only on the blood of the creature it parasitizes. The main victims of fleas include mammals that live in people's homes or farms. Wild animals living in burrows or nests are much less likely to be attacked by fleas. Typically, a flea does not live on the body of its victim all the time, but jumps there only to feed on blood; the rest of the time, fleas simply exist next to the owner. As for wild animals, fleas live on their bodies all the time; such insects are called stationary. The process of saturation in fleas can take several hours; fleas often drink blood as a reserve, due to which the size of the abdomen greatly increases. So-called stationary fleas need regular feeding; this is the main reason not to leave the body of their victim, but to live there permanently. Fleas can live on any animal, for example, live on a dog and then jump onto a squirrel. Only bat fleas do not adhere to this lifestyle; they parasitize exclusively on bats.

Types of fleas and their danger to humans

We will only talk about those types of fleas that live in our homes. These are cat, dog and human fleas. What is their difference?

Cat flea: The most common flea in the flea kingdom. On an animal it looks like small lumps of dirt. Dark discharge (excrement) also remains on the fur. The female lays eggs, resembling white grains, in cracks in floors, in the upholstery of upholstered furniture, and under carpets. It differs from the rest in its flat body and tiny head. Are cat fleas dangerous for humans? They feed on his blood when the main owner is not nearby.
Dog flea: parasitizes dogs, cats, and horses. The body is slightly flattened on the sides. It does not often visit humans, but in severe hunger it will not disdain human blood. She jumps quite far: three times further than she sees. The bristles allow them to adhere well to the owner's fur.
Human flea: Most often feeds on a person, especially if he has a characteristic odor and the hair is rich enough. Fleas can stay on humans for only a short time, moving onto cats or dogs. Signs of an “attack” are the presence of small wounds that itch very much. You can also notice a small dark dot on the body; this is an attached parasite that happily absorbs blood.

Note: A flea lives without food for 1-3 months. In this case, the insect does not fall into suspended animation, but simply becomes less active and does not reproduce. When favorable conditions arise, the parasite comes to life and begins to feed on those warm-blooded animals that are nearby.

Are fleas dangerous for humans? A bite is not always dangerous, only in some cases it leads to dire consequences. The real threat is that by biting another animal, and then a person, the flea is capable of transmitting infections, infecting all its potential victims.

Possible complications

A child's skin is thinner and more delicate than that of adults, so fleas prefer to attack children.

A bite for children is a serious danger for several reasons:

thin skin tolerates inflammatory processes less well and takes longer to recover;
immunity is not fully formed, so the risk of complications increases;
Pain causes stress.

The main complication is an acute allergic reaction, which occurs when the body is hypersensitive to parasite bites.

The main signs of allergies are:

small rashes in the affected area;
increase in body temperature up to 39 degrees;
digestive disorders;
swelling of the tongue and lips;
swollen lymph nodes;
dizziness;
nausea.

After multiple flea attacks, a child may develop chest pain, irritability, nervousness, and an aggressive state.

If a child has been bitten once, there will be no allergies, but numerous head injuries that are repeated regularly lead to dangerous negative consequences.

It is important to take your child to the doctor as soon as possible to identify the exact causes of the allergy and prescribe treatment. Self-therapy in this case is unacceptable and often leads to a worsening of the condition.

Signs of a parasite

Do fleas live on people? Permanently - no, parasites live on the fur of pets for a long time. They visit a person to have a hearty and satisfying meal, and then they can move onto a cat or into the carpet pile. These are not lice that live on the body permanently. Fleas live on humans only while they feed. Therefore, the question: are fleas transmitted from cats to humans is itself formulated incorrectly. There is no talk of any transfer from one owner to another.

Article on the topic: What is the difference between fleas and lice

Vampire fleas only quench their thirst, after which the female can hide in a secluded, dark and damp place to lay eggs. Males can live in animal bedding or garbage. Therefore, contaminated bedding, basements, and garbage cans can be a source of danger from which an attack will occur.

All secluded corners where annoying blood-sucking creatures hide are located close to warm-blooded animals and humans. They remain invisible and disappear after a bite. How fleas bite has been described before. If the skin is sensitive, the bite may be painful and small reddish spots may appear on the body. Fleas will attack constantly, so you need to know where they live:

in the cracks of the floor between the boards,
under the baseboard or threshold,
in the pile of carpets and upholstered furniture,
in linen and bedspreads, especially fluffy ones,
in storerooms and basements,
in the bedding of domestic animals.

Here they can reproduce, lay eggs and attack their potential victims.

Note: The development cycle of the parasite ranges from 2 weeks to a month, depending on living conditions. A larva emerges from the cocoon and searches for a host. If this happens en masse, large colonies develop. Up to 200 individuals can “live” in the fur of one animal at the same time.

Prevention

To prevent flea bites in children, it is necessary to protect the home and the child himself from possible contact with parasites:

If you have pets in your apartment, you must regularly use special insect repellents: shampoo, drops, collar.
Change bedding frequently and wash it in hot water.
Do not allow children to pet dogs or cats outdoors.
For prevention, residential premises are treated monthly with anti-parasite agents: “Raid”, “Clandestine”. Wormwood ether is also suitable for these purposes.
Repellents for clothing are applied to things when traveling outdoors. Such products repel not only fleas, but also ticks and other insects. At home, repellents can be used on upholstered furniture and mattresses.
If there are a large number of parasites in the room, it is better to resort to the services of professional services that specialize in exterminating insects.

If flea bites are found on a child’s skin, the following procedure should be followed:

disinfect wounds;
carry out wet cleaning throughout the entire apartment;
disinfect rooms and items of clothing;
cure affected areas;
See a doctor immediately if allergy symptoms appear.

By following these simple rules, you can prevent parasite attacks or start treatment in a timely manner.

Correct actions will help avoid infection, prevent the development of allergies and other complications.

How dangerous are fleas to humans?

The bite is sensitive because an enzyme gets into the wound with the little vampire’s saliva, thanks to which the blood does not clot. Therefore, the flea can get plenty of food. A small pink spot remains at the site of the bite, which causes severe itching.

Most often, bites are clearly visible on the legs. They are located scattered, in the form of small pink dots a few centimeters from each other. Flea bites are also noticeable on other parts of the body: most often on the arms, neck and armpits. If flea bites are actually present on a person, then there is tar soap and flea shampoo intended for people. If you find pink sores on your child's body, you should consult a doctor.

Depending on the individual characteristics, various lesions occur on the skin:

allergies of varying severity,
tumors at the site of the bite,
swelling occurs and internal hemorrhages are possible,
wounds become infected and ulcers form,
dermatitis develops.

Before fleas bite people, they can parasitize other animals, transmitting infection and becoming pathogens of diseases: plague, typhoid, tularemia, salmonellosis, hepatitis B and C. They can also transmit helminth eggs, which leads to the development of parasites inside the body .

Important! Fleas are temporary parasites that can jump from one place to another, picking up an object to feed on. They develop best at t=+18-27C and humidity 70-100%. In 20-50 days, under favorable conditions, the flea turns into an adult. At low humidity the larva dies.

Generalized allergic reaction in children

Flea saliva contains an enzyme that prevents blood clotting. As a result of multiple bites, its concentration in the blood can provoke the appearance of a generalized rash that is life-threatening. In 50% of cases, such skin rashes are accompanied by angioedema, affecting the skin and mucous membranes.

Facial swelling may be associated with swelling of the mucous membrane of the larynx and meninges. The danger lies in blocking the airways and squeezing the blood vessels of the brain. In the first case, asphyxia occurs, in the second - neurological disorders, including epileptic seizures.

Symptoms of angioedema require immediate medical attention.

In this case, the child should be given emergency assistance:

Apply a cold compress to the bite site.
If the skin is damaged on the arms or legs, apply a tourniquet above the bite site.
Give an antiallergenic drug to take orally.

Anti-allergenic agents: Suprastin, Tavegil.

How to get rid of fleas and is it possible to destroy them?

It is impossible to protect yourself from bites; you should clear your pets and home of “uninvited guests.” The first place to start is to check your cats and dogs for fleas. They may not be visible, but insect excrement is clearly visible on the fur. They come out of wool very well. You just need to purchase special sprays or gels, shampoos, and flea collars from pet stores. After treating with the spray, you should put on a collar so that your pet does not become infected again. The collar will protect against re-infestation of fleas.

Since the “bloodsuckers” also live in the room itself, it will have to be disinfected. Fleecy fabrics need to be treated especially carefully: carpets, rugs, bedspreads. It is better to destroy the bedding on which pets slept. You should pay attention to any cracks, baseboards, or holes in the walls where annoying insects may be hiding. First, you should thoroughly vacuum the house, and then start staining.

Important! Heating appliances should be turned off, pets should be removed, food should be carefully packed, and it is advisable for apartment owners to leave the house for a couple of days, since most flea remedies are toxic. The treatment must be repeated after 2 weeks, since the larval stage of the flea is quite long.

How do fleas appear in a home in the first place?

they are brought “on their own skin” by pets;
harmful insects can move into your home from the street, basement and other apartments.

For reference ! Favorite habitats for insects are carpets and upholstered furniture. They also live under baseboards, in hard-to-reach places.

Their food is dirt and garbage, so remember - order and cleanliness are the key to a healthy climate in your home .

We talked about how fleas get into houses in a separate article, but here you can find out where they come from in houses and apartments.

Once there are fleas in the house, it will not be so easy to get them out.

Remedies for fleas in humans

The choice of products for home treatment is relatively small due to the food specialization of insects. They will not eat poisoned bait; their food is blood. If fleas have settled in a person’s apartment, they are destroyed using two substances that have different effects:

Sprays and aerosols that penetrate the parasite's body with air. Due to the quick action, getting rid of fleas will not be difficult.
Powders and suspensions that penetrate the chitinous integument of an insect. They do not act so quickly, they act thoroughly, destroying all parasites.

The most popular flea spray is Raptor. Also used for disinfection are Solfak, Chlorpyrimark, Tetrix, and Efficient Ultra. After treatment, the apartment should be thoroughly rinsed to destroy any remaining toxic drugs. There is no need to use any poisonous substances that come into your hands. This will not only not give results, but can also lead to mutation of fleas and in the future it will be even more difficult to remove them.

Effective Ultra

Chlorpyrimark

Raptor

Solfac

Tetrix

A specialized institution can also help, from where they call specialists to treat the premises. You just prepare the apartment and leave it. After treatment, the special service workers will explain how to clean the room from the toxic substance, give guarantees, and, if necessary, carry out re-treatment.

Note: After processing and cleaning the apartment, for the purpose of prevention, we place fresh or dry wormwood with inflorescences in the corners, along the baseboards, under the carpets. Spraying the room with tansy tincture will help. They can not only repel, but also partially destroy insects.

How to prevent subsequent infection

To prevent the recurrence of parasites, pets should be treated. Pets are put on special collars or their fur is treated with anti-flea drops. A cat or dog should not be constantly with the child or have access to his bed. Children should be prohibited from contacting stray animals. They often turn out to be flea-bearing and can even infect a person using special ointments.

You should regularly comb your child's hair using a fine-toothed comb. If adult insects or their larvae are found between the teeth, treatment should be started as quickly as possible. In the early stages, it is easier to get rid of parasites. It is better to treat all family members and the child’s friends at once in order to completely get rid of insects.

Life stages of fleas

The life cycle of a flea consists of four stages, like many other pests:

The first stage is the egg.
Next is the larva
Doll
Finally, the adult is an imago

The eggs take approximately two weeks to develop. Then translucent larvae without legs emerge from them. At this time, they penetrate the victim’s nest and feed there on rotting products, dead particles of epithelium, and blood residues in parental excrement.

Next, the larva becomes a pupa; this stage lasts from several days and can last several months. At the last stage, the pupa turns into a full-fledged adult.

How to remove human fleas at home

To get rid of human fleas indoors, you should take a whole range of measures:

do general cleaning;
wash the floors in all rooms using vinegar (1 tablespoon per liter of water) and a couple of drops of essential oils of lavender, mint and other strong-smelling plants;
wash baseboards and walls (if the coating allows) at a height of up to 1 m;
vacuum over all upholstered furniture and carpeting (the disposable dust collector should then be immediately thrown into a trash can outside, and the regular one should be thoroughly drained outside, soaked in water and vinegar (1 tablespoon per liter of water) for an hour, washed and dried;
wash all bedding and clothing;
throw away all old unnecessary rags;
take all blankets, pillows and mattresses out into the bright summer sun or frost for the whole day;
treat all furry pets, if any, with anti-flea drugs.

After all these measures, you can begin to directly get rid of the bloodsuckers.

Flea remedies for children

In the case of children, the situation with fleas is complicated by the fact that parasite bites can be all over the body due to the child’s small stature. And the first thing to do is to properly treat the wounds so that the child does not scratch them, causing a secondary infection. The following are best suited for treating (lubricating) the affected area:

aloe vera lotion (optimal for use in infants);
Hydrocortisone cream;
if you are prone to allergic reactions, the bite site can be treated with hot and cold compresses with a vinegar solution, which is created by mixing water and vinegar in equal proportions, or with plain water;
a mixture of essential oils (tea tree oil, almond and coconut oil are mixed in equal parts).

If fleas are jumping in your child's hair, you can use lice treatments sold at the pharmacy. However, before using them, carefully study the instructions to know at what age you can use the drug and its contraindications. Shampoos with tea tree oil and scented lemon soap help get rid of fleas in your hair.

In children, flea bites can be found all over the body due to their short stature

Poisoning with special insecticides

If you want to get rid of parasites with the greatest reliability, you will have to resort to chemical industry products. So, you can use:

sprays (aerosols);
powders/dusts, in particular microencapsulated products;
solutions/concentrates;
crayons.

Aerosols (sprays)

Such drugs cause the death of insects after entering the respiratory tract. They act most quickly compared to other means and with their help you can get rid of parasites within 24 hours. The most popular drugs are Dichlorvos, Reid, Get, Raptor, Combat.

To use them you need:

Do a general cleaning of the room.
Remove food and utensils from the room.
Move furniture away from the walls.
Remove all uninvolved persons from the premises.
Wearing rubber gloves and preferably a respirator (or at least a cotton-gauze bandage), spray the walls with the product at a height of up to 1 meter, carpets and floors, all nooks and crannies and baseboards.
Leave your home for the time specified in the instructions.
Perform through ventilation for 12 hours.
Vacuum and wash floors thoroughly.
After a week, you can repeat the treatment in case of severe infection.

How to treat a room with flea sprays - photo gallery

After disinfestation is completed, the room must be thoroughly vacuumed to remove dead fleas, eggs and larvae.

During processing, all food must be removed from the premises to prevent toxic substances from getting on them.

Flea sprays are highly toxic, so it is advisable to carry out disinfestation wearing a protective suit, or at least gloves and a respirator.

General cleaning of the premises is necessary in order to get rid of flea eggs and larvae

Different brands of flea sprays have different effectiveness and duration of action.

Powders/dusts

The particular effectiveness of powdered products is due to the fact that they destroy not only adults, but also larvae. This is explained by the fact that small grains are found on organic matter, which the young generation of parasites feed on, and adult fleas collect the toxic substance with their paws and chitinous cover.

Particularly effective are microencapsulated products that adhere to all surfaces. In addition, after a certain time, the capsules burst, and the poison scatters in different directions, greatly enhancing the effect of the drug. Such products as Clean House, Fas-double, Baygon, Tornado are widely used today.

After general cleaning, the powdered product is generously poured into the most secluded places - under the bed, behind the baseboards, in cracks on the floor and in the ceilings (if any). The active properties of the dry powder are maintained for 14 days, after which it is either removed or renewed.

Almost all insecticidal powders for insect pests and parasites are very effective against fleas

In addition, a solution can be made from the substance, which can be used to treat all possible surfaces. For this:

put on rubber gloves and a respirator;
dissolve 20–40 g of powder (the amount depends on the degree of infection of the room) in 1 liter of warm water;
all walls (if permissible), hard furniture, floors are washed with the solution, and the lower part of carpets and animal bedding is treated with it;
after 4–6 hours, all surfaces are washed with soap and soda solution;
if necessary, the treatment is repeated after 2 weeks.

To prepare a soap-soda solution, grate 50 g of laundry soap on a coarse grater and dissolve it in hot water (5 l), then add 50 g of baking soda.

Solutions/concentrates

The solutions are most often used by professional exterminators, but you can also use them yourself. Among the popular remedies: Executioner, Sinuzan, Butox-50.

For use:

do general cleaning;
move the furniture away from the walls;
remove all food products and remove children and animals from the premises, as well as all uninvolved persons;
the product is diluted in water according to the instructions;
treat all surfaces with it at a height of up to 1 meter;
leave for the time specified in the instructions;
After applying the product, do not wash it off for a week.

To get the product into deep crevices, you can use a spray bottle. When processing, be sure to wear rubber gloves to avoid chemical burns.

Flea solutions show high effectiveness, but are highly toxic

Flea crayons

An excellent means of preventing the appearance of fleas are crayons like the well-known “Mashenka”. Draw chalk lines in all secluded places, under the rug near the front door, and so on. This should be done in places inaccessible to children and pets. Crayons can also be used as an aid in the fight against fleas.

Getting rid of fleas with cold

Another fairly effective method of getting rid of human fleas is freezing the premises. True, using it is quite problematic - you may encounter a serious confrontation between neighbors in an apartment building. And it is imperative to warn them, because if your heating pipes burst, they (and you too) will be directly affected. And then you will face not just a loud scandal, but also, most likely, problems with the housing office, and you may have to pay a considerable fine for damaging state property. And in the event of a lawsuit from a neighbor, they will probably have to make repairs at their own expense or compensate for its cost.

Therefore, it is best to use such a tough method of fighting fleas in a private home, following important rules. So, before opening all windows and doors, all utility lines must be thoroughly insulated. To do this, they can be wrapped with heat-insulating material, in extreme cases, foam rubber or old rags.

Fleas die at a temperature of -20 degrees Celsius, and it is clear that it is quite difficult to achieve such a temperature in the house. However, freezing will take effect very quickly - after just 10 minutes of being in such a “freezer” they die. However, we repeat, you will use this method at your own peril and risk.

How to get rid of human fleas using folk remedies

In some cases, it is dangerous to use chemicals in the home due to allergies, small children or pets. And then folk methods come to the rescue. There are several such recipes that can quite effectively get rid of bloodsuckers if their population is not too large.

Herbal infusion

To prepare the infusion you need:

take 2 teaspoons of tansy and wormwood and 4 teaspoons of eucalyptus (all plants in dry form);
pour 250 ml of boiling water over the herbs;
stir and leave to infuse for 10 hours;
Pour the finished product into a container with a spray bottle and treat walls with it at a height of up to a meter, carpets, floors, upholstered furniture and toys. The pungent smell should drive the parasites out of your home.

Coniferous wood shavings

Pine shavings can be scattered in all corners and stuffed into the animal's bedding. The smell of pine needles is intolerable to fleas.

Citrus peels

Using the skins of oranges, lemons, grapefruits, tangerines, placed in all possible places, you can repel parasites for a long time. In addition, with this product you scent the room.

Garlic

Because of the pungent odor, fleas strongly dislike garlic. To get rid of parasites, it is cleaned, and the cut slices are laid out on all possible surfaces.

Folk remedies for fleas allow you to get rid of parasites without harm to health

Vinegar, cologne and camphor

To use the product:

mix camphor alcohol, floral cologne and vinegar in equal quantities;
The solution is sprayed on all carpets, baseboards, cracks and other secluded places.

Soda and salt

To use this product:

take 2 glasses of water heated to 30–40 degrees and half a glass of soda and salt;
dilute dry ingredients in water;
the resulting solution is sprayed onto floors, walls, carpeting, and upholstered furniture;
a day later they do a high-quality wet cleaning.

In fact, it often turns out that the most popular folk remedies like wormwood and tansy do not have any negative effect on parasites at all. Moreover, dried plants serve as an excellent springboard for fleas to accurately jump onto their prey. And the only consolation can be that by such means you do absolutely no harm to yourself or your loved ones.

By the way, in this article the author does not specifically mention methods such as, for example, spraying with kerosene. From personal experience, we can say that with such substances you will smoke out your household faster than parasites. Also, do not forget that after using such a product, your home is extremely fire hazardous. And getting rid of the pungent smell of this flammable substance is very problematic.

In the cold season, thick woolen tights, knee socks or high socks can be used for mechanical protection against human fleas. Although the parasite jumps quite high, such an obstacle may well prevent it from biting. This type of protection is especially relevant for small children, who can also wear a sweater and pants made of thick material. But in the mid-season period, try smearing your feet with Zvezdochka balm, the pungent smell of which can repel fleas.