Adult Flea Bites and Treatment

How Serious Are Adult Flea Bites?

Cat fleas, the species behind nearly every flea problem in Florida homes, prefer furry hosts. People are a fallback. A flea that lands on your ankle may bite, but it cannot sustain a population by feeding on humans alone, so frequent bites on people usually mean pets or wildlife are keeping fleas going nearby. For most people the bites are an itchy nuisance rather than a medical danger. An over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream can take the edge off the itch, and a pharmacist or doctor can suggest other options. Keep in mind that calming the skin does nothing about the fleas themselves. New bites will keep coming until the pets, the house and the yard are treated together, and Florida Bug Control can help with the house and yard.

What Flea Bites Look Like and When They Matter

Flea bites on people are small, red, raised bumps, often with a slightly darker center. They tend to show up in clusters or short lines on the ankles, lower legs and around the waistband, and they can itch for several days.

About the disease risk: plague in the United States occurs mostly in rural parts of the West, not in Florida. Murine typhus can be spread when flea droppings get rubbed into the skin, but it is uncommon. For most Florida households, the bigger health concerns are for pets:

• Tapeworms: dogs and cats can pick up a common tapeworm by swallowing an infected flea while grooming. Small, rice-like segments near the tail are the telltale sign.
• Flea allergy dermatitis: in sensitive pets, a few bites can cause intense itching, hair loss and scabs, often along the lower back.
• Anemia: heavy infestations can take enough blood to weaken kittens, puppies and small or elderly animals. Pale gums are a warning sign.
• Cat scratch disease: fleas spread the bacteria behind it from cat to cat, and people can be infected through a cat’s scratch.

For a bite, wash with soap and water, use a cold compress, and try not to scratch. See a doctor if bites look infected (spreading redness, warmth or pus), if you have swelling or trouble breathing, or if fever and headache follow. Call your vet for any of the pet signs above. Removing the source is covered on how to get rid of adult fleas.