Fleas Living on People

It can be said that not many people actually realize just how harmful fleas really are. To be sure, everyone agrees they’re troublesome, but most probably just think of them as these tiny little insects that live in hair and make humans and animals itch. Of course, it is much more serious than that.

In the first place, what is it the fleas are doing that causes us to itch so much? Well, they’re not just crawling on our heads for the heck of it; they bite into our skin to suck out our blood. Fleas are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of living creatures. And while they may not suck so much of our blood that it would kill us, a bad itch is hardly the worst that fleas can give us. As they move from host to host, they also transmit whatever disease the previous host might have to their next one.

Various species of fleas are named for particular types of animals, such as Dog Fleas, Cat Fleas, and of course, Human Fleas. But regardless of what name we may assign to them, these different flea species don’t actually discriminate between hosts, and all are just as likely to attack people as they would any other kind of animal.

A symptom of fleas living on people is the presence of flea bites that mostly occur in areas such as the scalp, the elbow joints, the armpits, the waist, the knee joints and the ankles. Flea bites on adults typically appear in only a matter of hours after the flea attack, while it takes a few days for flea bites to be spotted on children. Those who have a high sensitivity to the bites are inclined to suffer from skin allergies; in worst cases, they may not just be feeling itchiness on the rashes on their skin, but on practically their entire body. Within a couple of days, the rashes may turn to blisters, which should not be scratched lest they bleed and cause even worse skin infections.

Flea bite treatment should start with alleviating the itchiness by disinfecting the affected area with an antiseptic soap and some cold water (do not use warm water as it would make the itching worse). Afterwards, press an ice pack on the flea-bitten area to reduce swelling. Resist the urge to scratch the rashes; apply Hydrocortisone cream or Calamine lotion to ease the feeling of itchiness.

One way of getting rid of fleas living in people’s hair involves using a mixture of 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 cup of shampoo. This solution is thoroughly massaged into one’s hair, and then rinsed-off after 10 minutes. If the itching sensation persists, refer to a doctor to prescribe the appropriate medication, or seek full medical treatment if the condition becomes too severe.