Flea bite: photo, pimple, what to do?

We count more than 100 species of fleas in France. But only a few of them are around us. This is a common problem, especially in homes with pets like cats or dogs. When they are hungry, Fleas can bite humans and feed on their blood.. We distinguish the wood chip so called because it tends to lodge between the cracks in the parquet flooring. They refer to the chips of the cat, dog or bird. But if they are hungry, these fleas can also bite humans; and the bedbug which is not a species of flea but a bed bug which is wrongly called a “chip”.

In France, the most commonly encountered species of (wood) flea is Ctenocephalides felis. It is able to reproduce on both cats and dogs. But it can also feed on human blood. In fact, it is mainly young adult fleas that have not been able to feed for several months due to the lack of mammals nearby that attack the calves and ankles of humans. They locate their potential host through their movements: in particular through vibrations, carbon dioxide and the heat released by it. If the flea receives no signals in the environment, it can remain latent for at least six months. But when a host is nearby, an animal or a human, it jumps at the opportunity and attacks it to feed. These fleas are still developing and waiting for prey usually hide in small corners like floorboards. Babies and young children are particularly at risk of being bitten, especially when playing on floors, carpets, rugs or hardwood floors.

Flea bites manifest themselves as:

• skin rashes: the appearance of pink or red spots (with a brighter spot in the center) often located on the ankles or feet.
• immediate severe itching: this irritation reaction is due to the flea’s saliva.
• On the other hand, flea bites are not painful and do not swell, unlike bites from other insects.
• If scratched, the spots can become infected: scabs may appear and the area around the bite may become painful.

In animals, the presence of fleas is not always visible.. Cats, for example, usually do not show clinical signs. On the other hand, dogs may scratch, jump when bitten, or bite themselves in an attempt to catch fleas. To know if your pets and home are infested, you should look for flea droppings that have a dark red, crystalline appearance.

Fleas usually bite the same area two or three times. They usually bite on the lower legs, ankles or feet.

• Plague. In some developing countries, fleas can transmit plague to humans after biting an infected rat. However, in Europe, this transmission has almost disappeared because plague-carrying rats have deserted the cities.
• A zoonosis. The rat flea can transmit the murine typhus. Caused by the bacteria Rickettsia typhi and R. felis, this pathology manifests itself by severe chills, headaches and a fever that lasts about ten days. Rashes can also appear on the torso and then on the arms and legs. This bacterial infection is benign in the majority of cases.
• Cat scratch disease. Fleas can also transmit cat scratch disease to cats. which can then infect humans through scratches or bites. The infected flea can also inoculate the bacteria directly into humans. This bacterial infection manifests itself by the appearance of one or more large lymph nodes or a papule, accompanied by redness, headaches and fever. An infection that can be complicated by heart damage.
• A parasitosis or intestinal worms. The cat or dog flea can be responsible for parasitosis, such as infection by the tapeworm, also called tapeworm, via its excrement. Young children are most affected because they put their hands in their mouths after petting the animals or playing on the ground. This infection is characterized by abdominal pain, or weight loss while the person is eating properly.

Infected areas should be cleaned and disinfected with water and antiseptic lotion. In the case of murine typhus or cat scratch disease, treatment consists of take antibiotics. Antibiotic therapy may also be prescribed if the lesions caused by the flea bite are superinfectedThis helps to relieve the fever that can occur in the event of superinfection.

If you have an allergic reaction to flea saliva, consult a doctor who can prescribe a antihistamine to relieve itching. In the case of a tapeworm infection, the doctor will prescribe specific antiparasitics available only by prescription.

To eliminate this real scourge, the first step is to treat the infected animal with products recommended by the veterinarian (collar, powder, etc.). The second is to vacuum every corner of the house and wipe the floor with detergent to kill eggs, larvae and young adults that are quietly maturing between the floorboards. It is also strongly recommended to wash your bedding, sofa covers, pet cushions and also your clothes frequently at 60°C minimum.