How Do I Know If I Have Flea Bites?
If you think you may have flea bites, you may notice symptoms and signs such as small red spots or dots accompanied by itching, rash, hives, or swelling around the bite.
Fleas are wingless parasitic insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds.
Common flea species that infect humans include:
- Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis)
- The most commonly found flea species in the U.S.
- Despite the name, it also infects dogs and humans
What Do Flea Bites Look Like?
Signs you may have flea bites include symptoms that start immediately after being bitten, such as:
- Small red spots/dots
- Often occur in groups of two or three or in clusters
- May have redness around them or a halo
- Commonly occur on the feet , ankles, and lower legs (though fleas can bite anywhere)
- Redness can last from hours to several days
- May be intense
- Scratching can cause secondary infection
- Symptoms of secondary infection from flea bites include:
- Pus draining from the wounds
- Skin redness
- Fever
- Swollen glands
- Pain
- Red streaking on extremities
Allergic Reactions to Flea Bites
Some people can have allergic reactions to flea bites. Allergic reactions to flea bites can be a medical emergency. Call 911 or get to a hospital’s emergency department immediately if you experience symptoms of allergic reactions to flea bites such as:
- Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath or wheezing)
- Swelling of the lips or tongue
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Chest pain
How Are Flea Bites Diagnosed?
- Flea bites are diagnosed with a patient history including asking about known flea infestation, and a skin examination.
- Fleas are very small and adults can jump very high and far, but if you are able to catch one it can be helpful to bring it to the doctor for identification.
- Adult fleas are wingless, oval, about 1/12 to 1/8 inch long, flat from side to side, and dark reddish-brown, with six long legs. Flea larvae are pale white and measure about three mm in length, resembling tiny worms.
How Do You Treat Flea Bites?
Treatment for flea bites involves treating the main symptom, which is itching. Avoid scratching flea bites which can create an open wound . Bacteria under the fingernails may enter the broken skin, resulting in infection.
Treatment for itching due to flea bites includes:
- Wash the area first to lessen the chances for infection
- Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-itch creams, lotions, or ointments
- Calamine lotion (Caladryl)
- Hydrocortisone (Cortaid, Cortizone)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Stronger antihistamines may be prescribed, such as hydroxyzine (Vistaril, Atarax)
- Antibiotics may be needed
Home remedies to relieve itching and other symptoms of flea bites include:
- For itching
- Witch hazel
- White vinegar (dilute 1 part vinegar with 1 part water)
- Tea tree oil
- Aloe vera
- Ice packs (or frozen vegetables) wrapped in a towel and applied to the skin
- Used teabags – cool in freezer and apply to the bite
What Are Complications of Flea Bites?
Complications of flea bites include infection and disease.
- Fleas can transmit diseases, such as:
- Plague (Yersinia pestis)
- Bartonellosis
- Typhus (Rickettsia typhi)
- Tungiasis
- Flea tapeworm
- Vigorous scratching of the rash may cause an open wound
- Bacteria and other debris under the fingernails may enter broken skin, resulting in infection
How Do You Prevent Flea Bites?
Most of the time, fleas get into the home via pets. The best way to prevent getting bitten is to prevent your pet from getting fleas and to keep the home free of fleas.
- Use flea prevention on your pet once a month
- Talk to your veterinarian about the right product for your dog or cat
- Follow label instructions and keep pets off the grass and out of the yard until the product dries or as indicated by the product label instructions
- If you have a known infestation, throw away the vacuum cleaner bag or empty the vacuum cylinder promptly
From
Skin Problems and Treatments Resources
- Moisturizers for Psoriasis: What to Know
- The Effects of Cancer Treatment on Your Skin
- Navigating the Challenges of AD
Fleas
Fleas are small insects that feed on the blood of humans, dogs, cats, and other warm-blooded animals.
Causes
Fleas prefer to live on dogs and cats. They may also be found on humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Pet owners may not be affected by fleas until their pet has been gone for a period of time. Fleas look for other sources of food and begin to bite humans.
Symptoms
Bites often occur on the legs and places where clothes fit close to the body, such as the waist, buttocks, thighs, and lower abdomen.
Symptoms of flea bites include:
- Small red bumps, often three bumps together, that are very itchy
- Blisters if the person has an allergy to flea bites
Exams and Tests
Usually, a diagnosis can be made when the health care provider examines the skin where the bites are. Questions may be asked about contact with animals such as cats and dogs.
In rare cases, a skin biopsy is done to rule out other skin problems.
Treatment
You can use an over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching. Antihistamines you take by mouth may also help with itching.
Possible Complications
Scratching can lead to a skin infection.
Fleas can carry bacteria that cause diseases in humans, such as typhus and plague. The bacteria can be transmitted to humans by flea bites.
Prevention
Prevention may not always be possible. The goal is to get rid of the fleas. This can be done by treating your home, pets, and outside areas with chemicals (pesticides). Small children should not be in the home when pesticides are being used. Birds and fish must be protected when chemicals are sprayed. Home foggers and flea collars do not always work to get rid of fleas. Always consult your veterinarian for help.
Alternative Names
Pulicosis; Dog fleas; Siphonaptera
- Symptoms of secondary infection from flea bites include:
