What do Flea Bites Look Like

Fleas are known for their natural blood-sucking behavior. They are not only dangerous for pets, but flea bites on humans are commonly observed. Unfortunately, not many of us are aware what a flea bite looks like. We tend to neglect the signs developed on the skin, assuming it to be some insect bite.

Consequently, flea infestation in the house remains undetected, resulting in frequent flea bites, both to the in-house pets and the family members. And the worst part is the possibility of transmitting the disease-causing pathogen through flea bites.

The peak time for flea bites on humans and pets are spring and summer. During these favorable environmental conditions, fleas become active and stick to human skin after coming out from their hiding places.

As a flea bites, it cuts the skin and injects saliva that contains anticoagulant substances and several other enzymes. With the anti-clotting effects of saliva, the flea continues to draw blood from the host, until it is full or satiated. At this stage, it falls down and settles in a nearby hiding area.

Very often, they bite in the ankles and lower portion of the leg. A flea bite mark depends on the allergic responses experienced by the individual. The bite area resembles a hard, red dot, surrounded by a red halo skin.

At the near center of the red spot, you can notice a single puncture point. The bite region usually swells from the adjacent skin and looks like a red bump. In hypersensitive people, the affected skin itches terribly, which may worsen to hives. This redness of the skin and swelling are due to enzymes present in the saliva.

As compared to the bite symptoms in adults, flea bites on children are very easy to identify. Their sensitive skin reacts severely to the enzymes released by fleas.

In short, the symptoms tend to be more serious in children. They mimic mosquito bites, spider bites, other insect bites, and at times measles. According to skin sensitivity, its symptoms in children and adults may last for a few minutes to hours or days.

If you spot any of the aforementioned signs and symptoms, practice self-care tips as flea bite treatment. First of all, wash the bite areas with a mild antiseptic soap. Applying ice packs helps in getting an instant relief from skin irritation and scratching. If you have a very sensitive skin, consider applying calamine lotion 3-4 times per day.

In most cases, this condition does not require therapeutic intervention. However, take the doctor's helps for increased swelling and outbreaks of hives.

Besides identifying the condition, one should try to identify this insect. There are several species of fleas, based on the prospective host. All of them are dark-colored, wingless and flightless parasites, having a laterally-compressed body of about 1/8 inch length.

Characteristic features used for identifying them are tube-like mouth parts and very long hind legs. They tend to hide in furniture, carpets, and rugs throughout the year. Effective flea control can be achieved, only if you can detect this blood-sucking insect.

So, the next time you spot fleas in the house, it is necessary to act immediately and follow some home remedies to get rid of them. The earlier you control flea infestation in the house, the easier it will be to eradicate these parasites.

Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.