2023-05-25 09:01:48
Did you know that fleas are as fond of human blood as they are of animals? Itching, secondary infection leading to fever and anemia, fleas are a real threat to our health in humans as well as in cats and dogs. We tell you everything you need to know to prevent and cure the attacks of these pests.
All regarding fleas
Like ticks, fleas are parasites that feed on the blood of their host, both animals and humans. Fleas live on the surface of the skin and can jump from mammal to mammal. To react well in case of flea biteit is important to distinguish:
- Woodchips – also called parquet chips or floorchips – tend to lodge in the cracks between wooden boards, in the house, hence their name. Most often, these fleas attack our animals (dogs, cats, birds, etc.), but they can also bite humans. It is to this kind of chip that we are interested in the rest of this article.
- THE sand fleas don’t have much to do with the first ones! Contrary to what one might think, sand fleas are not mites but crustaceans! The bite of this parasite found on most beaches. can cause irritation and itching… Generally sand fleas bite on the feet, ankles and legs and are most active during the evening, at night or at dawn: to guard once morest them, we can simply make sure to cover their ankles or avoid the beach at these times of the day… and avoid lying directly on the sand! Finally, we must also remain vigilant regarding bedbugs (sometimes called bed bugs)! There is another kind of sand flea bite, when the female penetrates under the skin to lay her eggs: the eggs do not survive but this can cause an inflammatory reaction or be the origin of tungiasis. This disease is caused by infestation by the female sand flea Tunga penetrating (et T. trimamillata in certain areas) – or chewing chip – and mainly concerns tropical and subtropical regions where the poorest populations are the most heavily affected (more’tungiasis information on the World Health Organization website).
- THE bed bugs … do not exist ! It is actually a bed bug, which is mistakenly called a ‘chip’.
If they most often feed on the blood of our domestic dogs and cats, fleas can also bite humans. Often lurking in small nooks similar to those found between parquet slats, they then tend to attack the calves and ankles, areas in which their bites are then concentrated. Babies and young children playing on the ground are also favorite prey. It is not easy to distinguish flea bites from the bites of other insects which also cause inflammatory skin reactions, but certain symptoms can help identify flea bites:
- Several bites on the lower legs, ankles, feet;
- Pink or red button (with a brighter point in the center);
- Strong itching.
The main element of distinction is that the bite of a flea – unlike the bite of mosquitoes or other insects – does not swell and is not painful.
What are the risks associated with flea bites?
As flea bites are very irritating – due to the saliva of this insect -, you may be tempted to scratch yourself…wrong! If scratched, the pimples can become infected. Crusts will then appear on the surface of the skin, at the level of the bite, and the area can become very painful.
Certain species of fleas can themselves be parasitized and in this case, they are likely to transmit bacterial infections to humans. The plague, extremely rare in Europe, is a flea-borne disease. After feeding on the blood of an infected animal, the flea then transmits the bacteria to humans if it bites them. Other insect-borne diseases include typhus murine (mild bacterial infection in the majority of cases), zoonosis (mild bacterial infection in the majority of cases) tularemia or parasitosis (disease caused by intestinal worms).
On the body, the flea bites are mainly located in the ankles and legs. They are itchy and can lead to skin lesions, which then cause fever and anemia. Stung?
- We start by cleaning the bitten area with water and an antiseptic lotion.
- In case of superinfection, antibiotics are often recommended.
If in doubt, it is obviously best to consult a health professional.
If the bites are numerous and superinfected – that is to say, they take the form of vesicles and pustules, the rupture of which lets a liquid escape – the doctor is immediately consulted. How to react in case offlea allergy ? Cases of allergic reaction to flea saliva may exist. If antihistamines can relieve a time, it is better to consult a doctor who can prescribe an appropriate treatment.
To avoid the flea proliferation, we take care of the health of Médor or Félix. The flea is able to absorb up to 15 times its weight in blood per day. To care for your pet, we carry out a specific treatment and we focus on regularity. In its cocoon, the flea can survive up to 5 months until the temperatures are milder and more suitable for its development. No need to cry victory following a month of treatment. To be sure that the animal is rid of the parasiteit is necessary to continue the treatment throughout the cycle of the chip, i.e. 5 months, to eliminate the fleas on her cat or his dog.
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