What Can I Use on a Baby to Prevent Flea Bites

Overview

What are flea bites?

Flea bites are small, discolored bumps on your skin that come from a flea feeding on your blood.

Fleas are tiny, wingless insects. They are night dark-brown or black and have apartment bodies. They have six legs, strong claws on the bottoms of their legs that permit them to hold onto a host and mouthparts that pierce your skin and feed on your blood. Their hind legs are longer and stronger than their legs in the middle and the front, assuasive them to spring over 12 inches.

There are more than than two,500 flea species in the world and more than 300 species in the United States.

Flea bites rarely cause any lasting harm. They crusade mild annoyance and irritation for a brusk period. However, flea bites tin can be dangerous considering they may spread diseases that can exist serious or fifty-fifty fatal.

Where are fleas plant?

Fleas are most active when the weather is warm. Exterior, fleas prefer cool, damp areas with a lot of shade. They live around trees, leaves, tall grass and shrubs. Fleas hop onto animals when they walk by these areas.

On dogs, cats and other animals, fleas live around the ears, neck, back and belly (abdomen). Once inside your domicile, fleas may jump off an infested animal and hibernate. They ofttimes hide in carpet, piece of furniture, bedding and cracks in the flooring.

Why do fleas bite?

Male and female person fleas feed on blood. Female person fleas lay eggs afterwards feeding on blood. In some flea species, especially the species that commonly bother dogs and cats, baby fleas (larvae) feed on blood-rich developed flea poop (carrion). Flea poop is too chosen flea dirt.

Do fleas bite humans?

Fleas seize with teeth humans. Withal, the flea species that usually bother dogs and cats don't live on humans. Dogs and cats accept much more hair than humans. Fleas like animals with a lot of fur because fur allows them to hide easily.

What happens when a flea bites you?

Fleas have strong claws on the ends of their legs that they use to hold onto a host. Their mouthparts include a tiny needle (proboscis) that pierces your skin, sucks your blood and secretes saliva into your bloodstream.

Why do flea bites itch?

When a flea secretes saliva into your bloodstream, your body registers the saliva as an allergen. Your immune system then sends the chemic histamine to the expanse where the flea bit y'all to remove the allergen from your body. Histamine is what causes your flea bites to itch and corking. Most people have a flea seize with teeth allergy.

Who is at run a risk of being bitten by a flea?

Fleas adopt to bite animals. If there isn't an animal in the area, fleas volition bite anyone. The following factors concenter fleas:

Body heat.
Breathing (carbon dioxide or CO2).
Move.
Vibrations.

Symptoms and Causes

What do flea bites await like on humans?

Later on a flea bites you, a small, discolored bump forms. A discolored ring or halo may announced around the bite. Flea bites may appear in a straight line or a cluster of many bites.

Flea bites most normally occur on your legs, peculiarly your feet, calves and ankles. Flea bites rarely announced above your genu, unless you spend a lot of time sitting or lying down.

What causes a flea bite?

Male and female fleas seize with teeth. They feed on your blood as part of their nutrition. Female person fleas lay eggs later feeding on blood. In some flea species, flea babies feed on developed flea poop, which contains blood.

What are the symptoms of a flea bite?

The symptoms of a flea seize with teeth vary. If the flea has a disease or an allergic reaction occurs, the symptoms may be more than astringent.

Common symptoms include:

Itchy and irritated pare.
A discolored ring around the bite.

More astringent symptoms can include:

An allergic reaction (hives, rash, shortness of breath and swelling).
Infection of a disease carried past a flea (fever, headache, body aches, rashes, nausea, abdominal pain, weight loss, dizziness and weakness tin can accompany diverse diseases).

Diagnosis and Tests

How can you tell if it's a flea bite?

Flea bites are slightly more unique than other common insect bites. After a flea bites yous, a small, discolored bump typically forms. A discolored ring may form around the bite. Flea bites don't swell to the size of mosquito bites.

Flea bites are too unique because of their bite pattern and location. Flea bites often appear in a straight line or a cluster. Fleas are more than likely to bite you lot on your legs, especially your anxiety, calves and ankles.

It'due south important to examine your pets. If your pets are scratching more than normal and restless, it's a good thought to check them for fleas. If your pet has fleas and you have bites on your legs, you likely take flea bites.

Management and Treatment

How are flea bites treated?

Flea bites typically don't need treatment. Over-the-counter anti-itch creams or ointments and antihistamines can relieve itchy skin and discomfort. However, run into your healthcare provider if more severe symptoms develop subsequently a seize with teeth (allergic reaction, fever, headache or body aches).

How do I stop flea bites from itching?

Don't scratch your flea bites. Yous gamble breaking your skin and exposing yourself to infection. If you lot accidentally suspension your pare, keep the area clean past washing it with lather and water and covering your flea bites with a bandage. Talk to your healthcare provider if you take an infected flea bite.

Flea bites only terminal a few days. However, there are many over-the-counter products or home remedies that tin end flea bites from itching.

Home remedies are safe for most people. Even so, it'south a good idea to check with your healthcare provider before trying some of the post-obit options to get rid of your flea bites. You may be at take a chance of developing an allergic reaction on your skin.

Antihistamines: Antihistamines are a popular flea bite treatment. Histamine is a chemical created by your allowed arrangement. Your torso releases histamine after it encounters an allergen. Histamine is what makes flea bites itch. You tin take an antihistamine equally a pill, or yous tin can apply it direct to your flea bite as a cream or ointment.
Hydrocortisone: Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid combined with an coldhearted pain reliever. It relieves itching and swelling. You tin can use it straight to your flea bite every bit a cream or ointment.
Water ice: Water ice can slow down the corporeality of claret that flows to an surface area. Information technology reduces inflammation, pain, swelling and itchiness. Use an ice pack covered in a lite towel over the surface area for at least 10 minutes for flea bite relief.
Aloe vera: Aloe vera is a succulent plant. The gel in its leaves contains salicylic acid, which relieves itching and pain. You tin apply aloe gel straight to your flea bite.
Chamomile tea: Chamomile tea contains stale chamomile flowers. The dried chamomile flowers comprise terpenoids and flavonoids, which are natural chemicals that have antioxidant and antihistamine properties. To treat a flea bite, add a chamomile tea handbag to water. Allow the tea purse steep for at least 20 minutes until the water is a rich gold-brownish color. Remove the tea bag from the water and squeeze the tea bag to remove excess water. Printing the tea handbag to your flea bites for at to the lowest degree 10 minutes, and so wipe your bites with a make clean towel. Put the wet tea bag in a container in your fridge then that you can reuse it on your bites throughout the day.
Love: Honey has many properties that salvage itching and pain. Honey contains an enzyme called catalase, which provides relief for modest inflammation. Put on enough unprocessed beloved to lightly embrace your flea bites. To avoid accidentally creating a sticky mess, you lot tin can also put a cast on summit of your honey-covered flea bites.
Oatmeal: Oatmeal contains gluten, which can soothe itchy flea bites. The all-time way to use oatmeal to treat your flea bites is to grind it into a fine powder (colloidal oatmeal) in a blender or food processor. Mix the oatmeal powder with warm water until information technology becomes a thick, sticky paste. Apply enough of the oatmeal paste to completely cover your flea bites. After at to the lowest degree 10 minutes, wipe off the paste with a clean towel.

Prevention

How do I end getting bitten by fleas?

To stop flea bites, yous must become rid of the fleas. Fleas are more probable to seize with teeth your pet. Check your pet for fleas around their ears, neck, back, and belly. Part your pet's fur and wait around its peel. If you notice fleas, here are some removal options:

Flea comb: The tines on a flea comb are very close together. When you brush your pet'south fur, fleas go stuck in the tines. If yous come across fleas in the rummage, dunk the comb in a basin of soapy water.
Flea shampoo: Soak your pet in warm h2o and thoroughly apply a flea shampoo. Avoid getting shampoo in your pet's optics and mouth.
Medicine: Give your pet over-the-counter or prescription flea medicines. Some medicines are oral (taken by mouth). Other medicines are topical (put on the skin).
Launder the bedding: Wash your pet'southward bedding in hot water every few days. Wash your bedding in hot water, besides, especially if your pet sleeps with you. Dry the bedding on the highest heat setting.
Vacuum: Employ a strong vacuum to thoroughly clean your carpets, rugs and fabric piece of furniture. When you finish, immediately empty the vacuum's contents into a handbag, seal it and throw information technology away exterior.

Bed issues bites vs. flea bites

Like fleas, bed bugs feed off your claret and secrete saliva into your bloodstream. Bed problems bites look similar to flea bites. Still, bed bug bites often showroom a distinct line or zigzag pattern. Bed bugs are active at night, and they'll bite your exposed skin while y'all're sleeping, including your face, hands, arms, feet and legs.

Flea bites vs. mosquito bites

Mosquitos are small, flying insects. They also feed off your claret and secrete saliva into your bloodstream. Mosquito bites await a little different than flea bites. Subsequently a mosquito bites you, a pocket-size, raised crash-land forms. The raised bump may change colors, and yous tin sometimes see a small, dark spot in the center. The night spot is where the bite occurred.

Living With

How do fleas spread disease?

Fleas spread affliction through their bites. Fleas are vectors (living things that bear diseases between animals and humans). Vectors often carry infections through blood. Many of the creatures classified as vectors are bloodsuckers. Other vectors include ticks, mosquitoes and sandflies.

In rare cases, fleas tin spread tapeworms and other parasites to animals and people. Parasites can spread if a person or animal were to swallow an infected flea accidentally. In houses with a flea infestation, young children are more likely to get a parasite than adults. Young children spend more than time on the flooring, and fleas like to hide in carpets and cracks.

What types of diseases can be spread past flea bites?

Fleas sometimes behave diseases that can infect humans. Some of those diseases include:

Plague

Plague well-nigh commonly affects small rodents in Africa, Asia, North America and Southward America. Nearly man cases of plague in the United States occur in the western part of the state, peculiarly in rural New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, California, Oregon and Nevada. Infected fleas can transmit plague to humans. Humans can besides go plague after handling an infected animal. Symptoms of plague include:

Flu-like symptoms like fever, aches and chills.
Low claret pressure.
Haemorrhage under the skin or other organs.
Weakness.
Shortness of breath.
Pain in the chest and/or belly.
Nausea and/or vomiting.

Owned murine typhus

Owned murine typhus unremarkably occurs in warm littoral areas in tropical and subtropical regions. Nearly cases in the United States occur in southern California and Texas. Infected fleas transmit endemic murine typhus to humans through flea poop. Infected flea poop enters your trunk through cleaved skin — typically from scratching a flea bite — or by inhaling it through your mouth or olfactory organ. Symptoms of endemic murine typhus include:

Full general discomfort.
Headache.
Pain in your muscles and/or joints.
Nausea and/or airsickness.
Fever and/or chills.
Rash.
Cough.

Cat Scratch Disease (CSD)

CSD commonly occurs throughout the world. In moderate climates, more than cases occur during the fall and winter seasons. In tropical climates, cases occur throughout the year. Fleas pass on the bacteria _Bartonella _to cats. Fleas tin sometimes laissez passer the bacteria to dogs or other animals. Infected cats also laissez passer the bacteria during fights with other cats. Cats — specially kittens — pass the infection to humans through a seize with teeth or scratch. Symptoms of CSD include:

A small, discolored blister or pimple near the scratch or seize with teeth.
Swollen, painful lymph nodes.
General discomfort.
Fever.
Night sweats.
Weight loss.

Parasites

Tapeworm larvae and the larvae of other parasites sometimes infect fleas. Infected fleas tin can spread parasites to animals and humans. Animals and humans must swallow an infected flea to learn a parasite. Animals may swallow an infected flea while preparation. Humans rarely learn parasites from infected fleas. Most cases involve children, who spend more than fourth dimension on the ground around places where fleas hide. Symptoms of parasites include:

Nausea.
Weakness.
Weight loss.
Abdominal hurting.
Dizziness.
Headache.

When should I run across a healthcare provider?

You should meet a healthcare provider if yous experience an allergic reaction to flea bites or develop symptoms of a disease or parasite carried by fleas.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Flea bites are an itchy, annoying trouble for you and your pets. In most cases, flea bites are ultimately harmless. But yous shouldn't scratch your flea bites. You can relieve your itch with many over-the-counter or dwelling house remedies. Contact your healthcare provider if your seize with teeth symptoms last longer than a few days or if you develop an allergic reaction or other symptoms.

kistlerpaboul.blogspot.com

Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21718-flea-bites