How To Get Rid Of Fleas On Humans (The Easy & Inexpensive Way)
Fleas are blood feeders. They prefer dogs, cats as hosts and latch on to humans too in extreme condition. They are on your pets is not great, but fleas on humans are even worse. And if it stuck on to humans, they feel itchy all the time. This itchiness is annoying and harmful to the skin. This is a sign of unhygienic living and annoying sickness. So, we advise you to get rid of fleas before they put you in trouble.
For more clarity, I have written down the name of fleas that are harmful to humans when they have no other source of nutrition available.
Fleas Harmful To Human
Pulex irritans (Human flea)
Pulex irritans human fleas are found worldwide. But less commonly in the United States. It feeds on a variety of mammals, including humans, birds, dogs, and chickens. Despite Pulex irritans name, its original host is believed to be either the peccary or guinea pig. According to the Centres for Disease Control, they are not effective carriers of diseases.
Ctenocephalides flies(Cat Flea)
Ctenocephalides flies (cat flea) are the most commonly encountered flea in the united states. Cat Fleas usually bite on those humans who often handled an infected animal. These fleas are less likely to turn to humans through their hosts. They do not prefer to feed on humans. But its bite on human skin can result in a number of diseases including plague, cat-scratch disease, and typhus.
Chigoe Flea (Tunga penetrans)
Chigoe flea burrows into its host skin. It remains there permanently unless surgically removed. These fleas sometimes found on tourists traveling from tropical regions of Africa Central and South America. Its bite on humans often results in infection and in extreme cases, amputation.
Oriental rat flea(Xenosylla cheopis)
Oriental rat flea found worldwide. This flea commonly feeds on rats, house mice, and cottontail rabbits. It readily bites humans and has been blamed for spreading a variety of diseases. They are commonly blamed for causing serious illness, including the bubonic plague.
Are Fleas Bite Dangerous?
When fleas bite on human skin it is usually just a red bump and in some cases it gets itchy. The itchiness is a reaction to the saliva injected into the bloodstream and skin. The irritation causes the bumps to get red and itchy and scratching can put dirt and bacteria on a person’s fingers into the wound which can lead to infection. Fleas bite is dangerous to humans but not life-taking. It causes uneasy itching for a longer duration that may damage your skin.
Symptoms Of Fleas Bite
People will not develop noticeable symptoms of fleabite. In general, they do not carry diseases. People and children who are allergic may have a bad reaction. lt can include swelling and itching. Around the bite, the skin may become irritated and painful. And sometimes hives and a rash will appear. If you scratch the bite area, it can cause a secondary infection.
Treatments
Treatments for getting rid of fleas on human use simple home remedies. These include:
- Tea tree oil
- Calamine lotion
- Vinegar
- Cortisone
- Anti-histamine medications
It is important that people do not try to scratch flea bites. Treating the flea bites will help reduce the itching. In some cases, their bites will resolve without treatment.
Tips For Removing Fleas on Human
Fleas can survive for more than 100 days without a host. Pets can carry up fleas from other animals or places and give them a ride home. So it is important to know how to spot and identify the signs of fleas. If you spot fleas at your house, you want to get rid of them as soon as possible. These are the following ways to get rid of fleas :
- After every use discard the dust bag from any vacuum cleaners.
- Regularly clean furniture, skirting boards, floors, and bedding.
- Treat your pet with prescribed anti-flea medication.
- Regularly groom your pets regularly with a flea comb and wash their beds every week.
- Wash floors with hot water and floor cleaner.
- Wash or discard all pet bedding as well as other household linen in a hot water to get rid of flea eggs and larvae.
- Before vacuuming the house, you can also use some organic food grade diatomaceous earth powder or Borax powder all over the carpet, as well as behind and underneath the furniture. For a few minutes leave a powder on the floor and then vacuum as usual. This process kills fleas by ripping their exoskeletons.
Conclusion
Fleas are a small insect that can not be seen through naked eyes. Their presence makes an imbalanced home environment. So, timely inspection and treatment for fleas control are important. As they feed blood from your pets, and your pet becomes a carrier for fleas to your home. Get them off from your house as soon as possible by hiring a professional pest control service.