Home Treatment For Flea Bites On People

Among all insects’ bites, flea bites are the one most commonly encountered by people

Humans can be bitten by a variety of fleas namely the human flea, dog and cat fleas, sand fleas or even bird or rat fleas. Flea are tiny little brownish “creatures” that can jump about 2 feet high and they feed on warm blooded animals including humans. Because of their ability to jump with their strong hind legs, fleabites are usually seen in areas around your legs and ankles. But very often, you would not know even if you are bitten by fleas and would only realize when you started seeing little itchy skin bumps with a center bite mark. The typical human reaction to a flea bite is the formation of a small, hard, red, slightly raised, itching spot with no swelling. Some bleeding can occur, particularly if the bitten area is scratched. A single puncture point caused by the flea is generally apparent in the center of each spot. This characteristic distinguishes the fleabite from the bites or stings of other pests. Ants and spiders leave two marks when they bite; mosquitoes, gnats, chiggers, bees, and wasps leave large swellings or welts. (See Pictures of flea bites on human)

However, it’s interesting to know that some people are immune and unattractive to fleabites while some may be very attractive to fleas and may develop a severe allergic reaction to the flea bites. The reason is because some people are allergic to the saliva excreted by the fleas when they feed on them while others may not be sensitive to it at all. Fleas bites in children are usually more severe

Treatment of flea bites is rarely necessary but the itch may be a nagging nuisance to some. Some home treatment for flea bites on people are available before you go looking for your family doctor.

Home remedies to treat human flea bites:

• Wash the affected area with some cold water. Do not use warm or hot water, as it tends to stimulate further itching.
• Put a cold pack over the bites to relieve pain and swelling
• If itch is intense, you may use a mild steroid cream like 1% hydrocortisone cream which is effective in relieving both itch and inflammation rapidly. This cream is easily available in a pharmacy without a prescription. Alternatively, you may also use Calamine lotion, which has been reported to be pretty effective in stopping the itch as well. However, with raw skin especially after you scratch it, it’s not advisable to use calamine as it may increases the chance of scarring
• The bites should improve within a couple of days after you treat them but if secondary infection sets in whereby you see that the bites remained red and swollen with discharge or even a fever, then a visit to your doctor is needed. Your doctor may put you on a course of antibiotics. Children are more susceptible and flea bites in kids can be severe which may need immediate medical attention.

Prevention is better than cure. Treating of flea bites is by no means an end to your problem. You have to take actions to get rid of the fleas once and for all. Only then can you be free of bites!

Check out the sections on “How to get rid of fleas in your home” and “Flea and tick control for pets” to help you in your flea extermination.