Flea bite – causes, symptoms & therapy

Flohbiss

Whether it’s a flea bite or a rash : skin reactions in the form of stings, pustules and redness are nothing unusual. If these occur in large numbers in connection with extreme itching, it may be a flea bite. There are many causes and symptoms, treatment and prevention are possible with simple means.

What is a flea bite?

A flea bite is a few millimeters large, red, itchy spot. It is the result of a flea’s blood meal. Depending on the irritation of the area from scratching, the form and intensity of the redness can change as a result of an inflammatory reaction.

A single flea bite rarely occurs. The “flea street” is characteristic, with several flea bites arranged in a row or in a triangle at a small distance from each other. There are several ways to treat a flea bite. An effective method is the flea powder from the pharmacy.

causes

There are many causes of a flea bite: a one-off infestation by a “stray” flea comes into question. This can happen almost anywhere in everyday life, eg in public transport and buildings as well as in parks. If you find a flea bite again and again, pets come into question. Cats and dogs in particular transmit fleas to humans. Out of over 70 different species of fleas, it is the cat flea that is most often responsible for flea bites in humans. Once a day, a flea takes a blood meal on the host, whereby the street-shaped arrangement comes about through several test bites.

When to the doctor?

A flea bite is of course not an independent disease, but it usually causes small red pimples . These reddened areas of skin start to itch immediately after the bite has taken place. If affected persons do not consult a doctor after flea bites, then of course a timely improvement cannot be expected. However, with a trained eye, a doctor can immediately determine whether the affected areas of skin are flea bites or not. So if you want an accurate diagnosis of itchy skin areas, you should consult a doctor at an early stage.

If you contact a doctor directly, you will be able to combat the flea infestation quickly and effectively. With prescription drugs, the flea infestation can be significantly reduced or eliminated after just a few days. However, if you do not seek treatment from a doctor at this point, you must expect the itching to worsen and increase significantly. The fleas multiply and accordingly the affected person will also suffer from multiple flea bites. If the pimples increase, it is therefore urgently necessary to consult a doctor.

symptoms and course

Even if no fleas are spotted, the most noticeable symptom of a flea bite is extreme itching . A little later, numerous bites in the form of small, slightly swollen bumps on the skin become visible. A flea bite can occur anywhere on the body: the ankles, the back of the knee and soft parts of the body covered by clothing, such as the lower abdomen and back, are particularly frequently affected. This makes it easier to differentiate from bed bug bites, at least for bites on covered parts of the body.With a heavy infestation, the entire body can be covered with hundreds of bites. In some cases, human hosts are allergic to flea saliva, resulting in the formation of painful, white papules . There are rarely any noticeable symptoms.

When a flea bites, it goes unnoticed because pain-relieving secretions are transferred to the skin via the flea’s saliva. The flea bite, especially when fresh, has a dark spot in the center that occurs as a result of tiny bleeding from the flea bite. It is also characteristic that when scratching fresh bites the older ones start itching again. Bed warmth increases the itching of a flea bite.

Diagnose

A reliable diagnosis as to whether it is a flea bite can only be made by a doctor or by finding fleas or flea droppings. The less the flea bite has been modified by humans, the better it can be determined by the doctor. If there are pets in the apartment, they should be checked with a flea comb. If you rub the brush with damp paper and rusty-brown spots remain, this detection of flea droppings is a clear sign of the flea bite as a result of the infestation.

complications

In most cases, a flea bite can be treated relatively well and easily, although this leads to very unpleasant discomfort for the patient. Those affected primarily suffer from very severe itching and reddening of the skin. The itching gets worse when the sufferer scratches the skin. Bleeding or swelling can also occur in the affected areas, so that the patient’s everyday life may be restricted. If the patient is allergic to the flea bite, pustules or papules may form on the skin.

Many of those affected are ashamed of the flea bite and therefore suffer from reduced self-esteem or inferiority complexes. Complications usually do not arise until there is bleeding from the flea bite, as the skin can rip at this point. The treatment itself takes place with the help of antibiotics and various creams and leads to success relatively quickly. There are no further complications or complaints. The life expectancy of the patient is also not reduced by the flea bite.

treatment and therapy

Both the cause and symptom of a flea bite should be treated: it is important not to further irritate the bite wounds to prevent scarring. Scratching the spots allows bacteria , flea feces, and other pathogens to get under the skin and cause inflammation. Cold compresses and cooling skin creams help against the itching.

Products containing cortisone can be used if the allergic reaction is severe. If the body is covered in large areas with bites, a soothing special shower gel can be purchased in the pharmacy.

Since the cat flea can transmit tapeworms, pets should be examined accordingly if the infestation persists for a longer period of time. If a flea bite becomes severely inflamed, the doctor can prescribe an antibiotic . While a flea bite poses minor health risks in Germany, complaints after a flea bite that have appeared on holiday should definitely be clarified by a doctor with regard to transmitted diseases.The environment must also be treated: if there is an infestation in the home, thorough vacuuming and regular washing is the surest way to prevent the fleas from multiplying. The use of insecticidal environmental sprays is a good first aid. In the event of a massive flea infestation, a so-called fogger can be used. A flea bite usually heals after 14 days at the latest.

prevention

A flea bite can only be prevented to a limited extent: In addition to complying with normal hygiene requirements, pets should be treated regularly with a spot-on preparation. It either kills adult fleas or renders them infertile. This reduces the chance of a flea infestation. In any case, after the vacation, the suitcase in the bath should be opened and carefully checked if a flea bite appeared before.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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