What Are Fleas?
Fleas are known as tiny bugs and don’t grow much larger than the size of an apple seed. The color of these insects ranges from almost black to light brown. These pesky creatures don’t have any wings. They move around by jumping from one place to another.
A flea can reproduce rapidly, especially if you have pets living in your home. However, you can also potentially host fleas even if you don’t have any pests. Your yard might be a hotspot for fleas, which can cause you to land up with a bunch of mysterious bites. Due to the external developments included in a flea, getting rid of these pesky insects is almost impossible without pesticide treatments.
Common FAQ’s About Fleas and Flea Bites
2.Flea bites vs bed bug bites?
3.Bed bug flea bites on humans?
4.How long do flea bites last?
What are the Symptoms of Flea bites?
Several common symptoms are associated with flea bites. People often claim that these fleabites are extremely itchy and the skin present around every bite might become painful or sore. In addition to this, it isn’t uncommon to develop hives and rashes near the bite site.
Not to mention, excessively scratching these flea bites can cause further damage to your skin and can lead to bacterial infection. Due to this, it’s highly recommended to avoid scratching as much as possible.
What is the Appearance of a Flea bite?
Flea bites are distinctive markings that you can easily separate. These bites look like small bumps that are commonly red. The bumps generally form in clusters of four in a zig-zag pattern or horizontal line. These bumps remain small, which is unlike mosquito bites.
After further inspection, you might find that a red ‘halo’ is present around the bite center. You can commonly find flea bites on your ankles, legs, breasts, armpits, groin, and the folds of your knees and elbows.
Are Flea bites Dangerous?
After humans are bitten by a flea, the risk of contracting other diseases from this pest is highly unlikely. However, bacteria can infect your body through the site of this bite and cause a nasty infection. The risk of this bacterial infection is enhanced when you begin scratching these fleabites. An infected flea bite is going to turn red and feel warm when you touch it. In addition to this, it isn’t uncommon for infected fleabites to release pus.
Adding to this, flea bites can also trigger an allergic reaction in individuals who are sensitive to these bites. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to fleabites include raised welts present on the skin and difficulty breathing. Moreover, flea bites also cause complications in your household pets. This includes allergic reactions and even anemia as a result of blood loss. For this reason, it’s crucial to take your pets to the vet if you find that they have fleas.
Signs that You Have Fleas in Your Home
You probably know exactly what fleas look like if you have a furry pet in your home. It’s no secret that fleas like to live on a dog or a cat. However, that doesn’t mean that these fleas don’t take up residence on you or other animals. Once this flea population grows, fleas are likely to branch out and start living in your home’s carpets, yard, or bedding. Undoubtedly, an extreme flea infestation can be an obvious sight.
However, you might have an inclining that you have fleas in your home but don’t spot them. If this is the case, you can walk across your carpet while wearing white socks. After doing this, look at your socks. You have fleas in your household if you see small black bugs at the bottom of your white socks.
How to Treat Flea bites:
One of the only good things about flea bites (if you can call it ‘good’) is that these bites go away without any treatment. However, this doesn’t mean that the biting stops. If you’re getting sick of being treated like a chew toy by these fleas, you need to get rid of these fleas to stop them from biting you. You can relieve the common symptoms associated with anti-itch and antihistamine creams that you can find over-the-counter.
After this, you should make a conscious effort to avoid scratching the area. In addition to this, you should also book an appointment at your local doctor’s rooms if you notice this fleabite has a rash or a white pocket. This could be a sign of an infection at the bite site. It’s imperative that this infection is eradicated as soon as possible before this infection gets into your bloodstream or the wound grows.
Getting Rid of Fleas for Good
Two full-proof ways to get rid of fleas are:
- Treating your household and the furniture in it.
- Treat your pets.
If you have furry pets in your home, you should first start by inspecting your pet for any signs of fleas. This is because these pets are generally the source of a flea problem. You can perform this inspection by moving their fur back to look for any fleabites or fleas on their skin. Scratching more frequently might be a sign that your pet has fleas.
You can treat your pet by using anti-flea powder and shampoo to rid your furry friend of any pesky fleas taking residence in your pet’s fur.
In addition to this, you could also consider using a flea collar to prevent any fleas from coming back to your dog or cat’s fur. Moreover, you can also consult your veterinarian for their recommendation on using oral or topical medications for your specific pet.
In regard to your home, you should start this process by vacuuming your carpets, curtains, and bedding. Throw the contents of your vacuuming bag outside. After this, wash all bedding in your household. This also includes your pet’s bedding. Set your washing and drying machine to the highest heat setting to kill any fleas that might be present in this bedding.
You might also want to use pesticides to rid your home of any fleas. This typically entails leaving your home until the spray is dry and professionals deem it safe to re-enter. A quality pest control company can help you with exterminating a flea infestation in your home.
If you’re looking for the right team to handle the issue for you, Synergy² is here to help. We provide trusted services throughout the area, so contact us for the best pest control services around.
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