What are Fleas?
Fleas are insects which live as a parasite on humans and animals feeding on their blood and sometimes transmitting diseases. they have no wigs so they navigate by jumping.
The exist more than 2000 types of fleas and survive or depend on their host for food and nourishment.
They turn to reproduces very quickly especially if have bets and cattle around. Even you don’t have have pets or cattle they might still find a way to reproduce around where you live leading to infestation.
The most adequate of eliminating or eradicating fleas is through the used of pesticides.
How fleas Feed on Blood
Fleas live on blood yet adult fleas can survive fora few months without feeding. Fleas break open the body using their sharp jaws usually around exposed areas of the body like hands and fits. Fleas have saliva made of chemicals which stop blood from coagulating ensuring the blood does stop flowing. Female fleas turn lay eggs after they are well feed. The eggs have an oval shape and are slightly coloured. The larvae cocoon themselves within weeks of hatching. Vibration, such as footsteps, prompts adult fleas to emerge from their cocoons. This is why you may be bitten after entering a house that has been unoccupied for some time.
Visible characteristics of fleas
- They are wingless, have an oval shape and around 3 to 9mm long
- they may be colored between light or deep brown
- they have a very small heard with respect to their body
- they have six limbs
- they have a larger pair of hind legs used for jumping and navigation
How to recognize flea bites
how to differentiate flee bites:
- They have very itchy bites
- An hour after a flea bites you the position of the bites becomes red and swollen
- 24 hours or more after the flea bite the lump might turn into a blister
- Fleas usually bite humans on their legs and hands
- your develop a secondary infection because of break on the skin tissue
- the might cause some people to be very sensitive to bites.
symptoms associated with fleabites?
The symptoms common to fleabites include very itchy bumps on the skin which may cause the sounding area of the skin to painful to a touch. Hives could also develop if you become allergic to the bites.
Sometimes, fleas bites could transmit diseases that may lead to other symptoms, including :
- fever
- headache
- dizziness
- joint pain
- swollen lymph nodes
You may also damage your skin when scratch the itchy area as a result of a byte let your skin to be vulnerable to bacteria infections which causes bumps which break to ooze out put which eventually moves to the parts of the body.
How to Treat flea bites?
- try to stop yourself from scratching the itchy areas
- Use antiseptic soap to watch the beaten areas to reduce the risk of infection.
- To relieve swelling apply ice regularly
- Use calamine lotion, anaesthetic creams or similar to treat the itching.
- See your pharmacist for advice on appropriate antihistamine medications to reduce the swelling.
- Seek treatment for possible tapeworm infection, since fleas can transmit this parasite through their bite.
- See your doctor if the symptoms worsen or if a secondary infection develops (indicated by discharge of pus from wounds).
flea Pest control treatment
The type, source and extent of the infestation, can be determined by a licensed pest control operator who will use a registered insecticides to control the fleas. Cleaning Your house regularly and other hygiene practices should reduce the risk of further infestations.