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- Fleas, their eggs and larvae
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- Flea bites
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- Flea bites on the body
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- Bedbugs
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- Flea bites
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- Flea bite ointment
How do fleas bite
Insects are characterized by miniature size and body color in a brown gamut of colors. At first glance, the flea seems to be a very harmless creature, but in the photo the parasite looks very intimidating. The whole body is covered with bristles, which help the bloodsucker to move imposingly in animal hair. The insect has three pairs of legs, the hind legs are much longer than the rest. Due to this structure, the insect is different good jumping ability.
Flea takes the second place among insects by jumping ability. She can overcome up to 30 cm during a long jump and up to 20-25 cm in height. If a person wanted to compete with a parasite, he would have to learn to jump up to 160 m in length.
The flea’s oral sucking and sucking apparatus is designed to supply blood. Unlike bedbugs, parasites do not pierce the skin of their prey, but literally cut through it with their upper jaws, at this time the lower jaws push the wound apart to introduce saliva into it. To reach the capillary, they have to plunge their head and body into the wound. A person feels a bite from fleas immediately and experiences strong pain. This is due to the fact that the insect does not inject anesthetic, as it is well aware of its invulnerability. During the meal, the parasitic individual with its saliva introduces a special enzyme into the wound, which prevents blood coagulation. Its amount is negligible - only 0, 000004 mm³, but this microscopic dose provides severe itching and the appearance of edema at the site of the bite.
Flea bites always represent a chain consisting of 2-4 punctures, just as many make one insect in one meal. Under favorable conditions and the presence of a constant food base, parasites prefer to eat every day. In the absence of such, they can hibernate and remain in it for up to a year. After awakening, hungry insects with special zeal attack on their victims, as a result of which they can pretty bite them.
Can fleas bite a person
Among the enormous species diversity, there are only a few species that do not “change” their carrier. Such faithful companions include fleas parasitizing on bats. Other dogbirds feline fleas can easily change their food source and migrate to other species of warm-blooded animals. Human blood is somewhat different in composition and temperature, but this does not make it unsuitable for feeding parasites, so people can be attacked by jumping vampires.
Separately, it is worth noting human fleawho prefers to eat human blood.Like other relatives from the flea family, these parasites do not live on the human body and use it only as a food source.
If you look at how fleas look in humans, this species has no striking differences from other representatives, with the exception of larger sizes. The difference can be seen only under a microscope. It is impossible to consider an insect during movement - a person’s gaze only manages to note the presence of the parasite and its disappearance the next moment. It is worth noting that a flea can make up to 30,000 jumps without stopping.
What does a flea bite look like?
In appearance, flea bites on a person have many similarities with the bites of other blood-sucking parasites: a red spot with a pronounced swelling and slight compaction. The most often located flea bites on a person’s legs: feet, legs. Hands, stomach, back are less likely to be hit by flea attacks. In children, lesions can be anywhere on the body. The skin of the child is thin and delicate, so it is not difficult for an insect to bite through it. Below are photos of flea bites on humans.
In tropical countries prevalent sand fleas. The female does not bite a person, but literally penetrates under his skin and remains in it. Receiving regular nutrition, a large number of eggs are formed in her body, due to which the female expands greatly. If it is not removed in time, severe suppuration can occur, which can lead to amputation of the limbs.
Traces of flea bites are linearly or randomly located at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other. The affected area immediately begins to itch, and at the moment the insect enters the skin, pain occurs, similar to a sharp needle. Symptoms of a flea bite on a person pass within 5-10 days, depending on the characteristics, body reaction, immunity and species of the parasite. A cat flea bite is faster compared to rat "injection". The most painful sensations are left behind by bloodsuckers parasitizing on moose. According to eyewitnesses, their bite is comparable to a bee.
Feedback
“A few days ago we went camping with friends, lived in tents for several days. On the second day I began to notice that my legs were itching terribly. At first, attributed it to nettles, but when all the guys began to complain about such symptoms, I had to look for reasons in another. It turned out that fleas bit us. I could not even imagine that their bites were so painful and always thought that insects bite only those who keep pets. ”
Vyacheslav, Perm
Comparison of flea and bug bites
In an apartment or in a person’s house, several bloodsucking parasites can bite: home bugsfleas mosquitoeswhose bites are different. Given how flea bites look and their resemblance to the wounds that other blood-sucking creatures leave behind, identifying the culprit is difficult. And if mosquitoes give out their presence with a characteristic annoying buzz, then bedbugs and fleas do their bloody business without any sounds.
You can distinguish a flea bite from a bug bite by the following signs:
- Bed bugs go hunting purely at night, while jumping parasites do not recognize the time frame and can bite at any time of the day.
- The bug introduces an anesthetic, so the person does not feel pain during his bite. Fleas are not so humane to their victim and during their bite a person always feels acute pain.
- Flea bites on a person’s body are most often located on their feet, while bedbugs usually bite the upper body: shoulders, arms, back.
- Bed bugs leave behind a characteristic track, consisting of 3-5 punctures. Fleas also bite the skin in 2-3 places for full saturation, but their bites are not always linearly arranged and can be randomly concentrated at close distances to each other.For a comparative analysis, look at the photos on the skin of a person from bite bites and fleas.
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- Bedbugs
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- Flea bites
Why flea attacks are dangerous
During the meal, the insect introduces its saliva into the human wound, which contains a substance that promotes blood clotting. The penetration of the enzyme into the body provokes allergic reactions in people, and feces and undigested blood that get on the skin during feeding the insect aggravate the situation and cause additional skin reactions.
A single bite is not serious health hazards, which cannot be said about systematic regular attacks of parasites. The consequences of flea bites can be very deplorable:
- In places of bites, severe itching appears and when combing there is a possibility of introducing microbes and infections into the wound.
- The manifestation of allergic reactions, which are accompanied by difficulty breathing, fever, intestinal disorders, urticaria, severe swelling of the skin. The fragile organisms of children are especially prone to allergies. In the presence of dangerous symptoms, seek medical attention.
- The development of dermatitis, pulicosis.
- Infection of a person with endoparasites - worms, worms.
- Fleas are carriers of dangerous bacteria of plague bacillus, salmonella, encephalitis viruses, hepatitis, and typhoid pathogens. In total, there are about 25 diseases that insects can transmit.
In addition to the fact that fleas pose a threat to health, they cause psychological discomfort to their victims. A person develops psychosis, nervousness, it constantly seems to him that insects crawl on him, bite, even if at this moment parasites are absent.
How to get rid of flea bites on a person
Treatment of flea bites primarily comes down to disinfecting wounds, relieving itching and swelling. To do this, it is necessary to treat the bite site with a solution of laundry or antibacterial soap, apply ice and grease with an antiseptic. To prevent infection, you can treat flea bites with any alcohol solution, iodine, hydrogen peroxide.
How to treat flea bites in a person depends on the symptoms. At elevated temperature, weaknesses, self-medication is contraindicated. In such cases, you need to contact a medical institution and only a doctor can prescribe the correct treatment.
Feedback
“In search of my lost cat I had to go down to the basement, where I was bitten by fleas. Large blisters appeared, all skin was scratched strongly. That I just didn’t apply, nothing helped. What to treat, the doctor told me. In my case, diphenhydramine cream worked well for me. Itching and swelling quickly subsided. The only drawback is that you always want to sleep from him. ”
Olga, Dzhankoy
If severe allergic manifestations are absent, treatment of bites can be carried out at home. Among pharmacy preparations, a special ointment for flea bites is not presented, but there are a number of various tools that will help treat affected skin areas:
- Boro-plus cream is one of the cheapest and safest drugs. Relieves inflammation, irritation, is used when purulent wounds appear.
- Fenistil Gel is a universal remedy for insect bites. Helps relieve itching, inflammation.
- Levomekol is used when pustules appear to disinfect. Treat flea bites with a gauze swab.
- Hydrocortisone ointment refers to potent hormonal drugs. Smear bites only if absolutely necessary. Helps to get rid of itching, severe swelling.
You can treat parasite bites with the help of folk remedies:
- To relieve swelling, mix table vinegar with water in equal proportions and treat the wounds. For the same purpose, you can use ice cubes or a weak solution of citric acid.
- To relieve itching, prepare a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a glass of water. Make compresses from the resulting mixture.You can mix soda with water until a mushy state and apply to the affected areas.
- Lotions from plantain, aloe, green tea, calendula, celandine relieve itching and disinfect wounds.
In addition, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the house using effective remedies. You can also contact a specialized company and hold pest control in an apartment or house.
