Why are human fleas dangerous and how to get rid of them?

Fleas are harmful parasites that prefer to live on the body of warm-blooded animals with fur. But in addition to these types of insects, there are species that drink human blood.

The human flea originated in South America and then spread throughout the world. This type of parasite does not live permanently on the human body, but only feeds on its blood. When the bloodsucker is satisfied, he returns to his hiding place.

The bites of wingless insects are very dangerous for humans, as the pests carry a lot of infections. Therefore, it is important to know what a human flea looks like and how it penetrates into a home and what methods can be used to destroy it.

Are there human fleas?

Fleas are insects that lead a parasitic lifestyle. Bloodsuckers are not very picky about what they eat, especially when they feel hungry.

Do fleas live on humans? Under normal conditions, wingless ones choose the blood of a dog or cat. Small parasites bite humans if they have no other source of food.

However, there is one type of blood-sucking parasite from the Pulex Irritans family that bites humans. The human flea prefers to drink the blood of people, but if they are not nearby, then it can live on the body of almost any mammal.

It is noteworthy that in addition to Pulex Irritans, more than 1,500 species of fleas can consume human blood. But most of them parasitize a certain species of bird or animal.

Most often, humans are bitten by these types of wingless bloodsuckers.:

1. Rabbit.
2. Feline.
3. Rat.
4. Canine.

These types of parasites bite humans when there are no hosts nearby. For example, rabbit bloodsuckers often attack hunters.

Signs of fleas at home

It is quite easy to determine that fleas have appeared in an apartment or house. You can remain in the dark at first, while there are still few insects and they are not very active, but every day the signs that parasites are neighboring you become more and more obvious:

• the behavior of pets changes - they become restless, irritable, often itch, and sores appear on the skin;
• household members have bite marks on their bodies (most often on their legs below the knee), which itch and do not go away for several days;
• Small dark dots were noticed on the floor, furniture, linen or soft toys.

If at least one of the signs is noticed that confirms that fleas live in the apartment, it is necessary to urgently take measures to destroy them.

Appearance of a flea

If pinpoint bites appear on the human body, and small insects are jumping around the house, in order to determine their species, you need to understand what human fleas look like. Human parasites are very similar to other types of blood-sucking, wingless insects.

The pests are very small, they have a flattened body . Parasites have a small head and no wings. The size of an adult insect is about 3 mm.

A bloodsucker that bites a person has 6 legs, and its hind legs are more developed. This gives him the ability to jump over a long distance (1.5 m).

An insect that prefers to suck human blood has a developed oral apparatus. This allows him to inject and easily draw the red liquid from the vessels.

Preparation for disinfection

Methods that explain how to get rid of fleas in the house on your own or with the help of specially invited specialists require preliminary thorough preparation of the room.

1. All food products are carefully packaged and placed on the balcony, in the refrigerator or locked in a wall cabinet.
2. It is advisable to remove pets from the premises during treatment.
3. All household members, except the person carrying out the disinfection, also leave the apartment.

Wardrobes, sofas, beds are moved away from the walls so that there is access to all secluded places.

How to tell if there are fleas

The presence of a blood-sucking parasite can be determined by examining its bites. Some people think that fleas live on a person's head. But in reality, human insects feel absolutely comfortable when they land on the face, arms, neck, back, legs or stomach.

The bites of wingless parasites are very painful, so they are well felt.

Symptoms of fleas in humans:

1. the presence of red spots at the site of the bite.
2. Purple spots become swollen and itchy.
3. When scratching, wounds and abrasions appear.
4. If infection penetrates into the affected areas, ulcers form.

When a human flea bites the scalp, unlike lice, its bite is painful. At the same time, the parasite that selects human blood is more mobile and jumps well.

Prevention

Preventive measures against the appearance of fleas in the apartment are simple, but require regularity and attention.

It is necessary to carefully inspect all surfaces and cover any cracks if any have formed in window, doorways or floors. It is advisable not to allow children to bring other people's animals.

When walking with pets, put a flea collar on them and exclude contact with street stray animals. All accessories from the corner where the dog sleeps are periodically shaken out, ventilated, and washed.

When carrying out general cleaning, it is useful to use one of the herbal infusions that have flea-repellent properties.

How to get rid of insects

There are many ways to remove fleas from humans. So, if there are animals in the house, then it is necessary to treat the pets’ fur with a special shampoo or products. For prevention, you should put a special collar on your cat or dog.

It is recommended to do a thorough cleaning of the entire house. It is recommended to thoroughly clean carpets, furniture and bedding where animals lie.

Exposure to temperatures will help get rid of wingless ones. You can wash things in the hottest water possible or ventilate the room on a sunny day.

Freezing will also help eliminate human parasites. Therefore, in winter it is necessary to ventilate the apartment as often as possible. But this method is not suitable for a person prone to colds.

Effective methods for removing pests that suck human blood are the use of chemicals or folk remedies. If the effectiveness of such measures is low, they resort to the services of professional exterminators.

Chemicals

Since fleas feed only on blood, there is a small list of means to eliminate them. For example, this type of parasite does not eat bait.

To combat fleas in humans, 2 types of products are used:

Type of chemical	Action	Name
Aerosols	They enter the body of bloodsuckers along with the air. They have a quick effect and do not destroy larvae or eggs.	Gardex, OFF-Extreme, Gall-Rat, Bee Ban
Suspensions and powders	Active components penetrate the skin of pests. These products are considered more effective than sprays and have a long-lasting effect.	Cypermethrin, Get, Tetramethrin-pyrethroid

How to get rid of fleas on the human body and how to repel fleas from a person? Since Pulex irritans is not constantly present on its host, there is no need to use potent agents to destroy them.

But to repel pests, you can treat the skin with preparations whose smell repels human insects (clove extract, lemon extract, wild garlic solution).

Folk remedies

If a person has fleas, it is important to know how to protect yourself from them using folk remedies. There are many ways to get wingless pests out of your home.

The most effective and popular means are soda, salt, pine shavings, yeast, garlic and herbs. Moreover, any of these components is absolutely safe for humans.

Soda and salt are combined in equal quantities. The mixture is scattered in corners and other places where parasites live. After a day, you should vacuum everything thoroughly.

Coniferous needles and wormwood have a pronounced antiparasitic effect. Dry plants are scattered in front of the entrance to the house and placed in any cracks. This will prevent pests from entering the home and getting on the human body.

Chopped garlic is mixed with brewer's yeast. The composition is applied to the floor and baseboards. After 10 hours, the treated areas are vacuumed and washed.

Herbal infusions are considered effective remedies against wingless insects . Most of all, human fleas (and not only) are repelled by the smell of eucalyptus, lavender, tansy and wormwood. All plants are mixed in equal quantities, poured with water, and boiled. The resulting solution is used to wash floors and wipe surfaces where bloodsuckers live.

Professional pest control

Specialized protection against fleas is necessary if the number of human parasites is very large and it is not possible to get rid of them on your own. Employees of the sanitary and epidemiological station and private offices that carry out pest control can professionally treat your home.

The liquidation procedure takes 20 or 60 minutes. Services use 2 effective treatment methods - cold and hot fog.

The chemicals disperse into small droplets that float in the air for another 4-7 hours. The procedure allows you to eliminate adult fleas and their eggs.

Flea remedies for children

Fleas do not live permanently on the human body. Pests move to the skin to feed, and then return to their habitats (bedding, baseboards, cracks).

In view of this, there is no need to treat the body with special means. But if there are too many human insects and they constantly bite, using a special anti-flea shampoo will help protect the delicate baby scalp.

The child's body can be treated with safe products that will repel blood-sucking parasites. To relieve unpleasant symptoms, hydrogen peroxide and brilliant green are applied to the bite sites. Fenistil is used for itching.

What types of fleas are known?

About two thousand varieties of fleas are known. 30 of them can occupy human habitations. The names of the species depend on the habitats of the parasites:

• earthen fleas or otherwise cruciferous (they settle in vegetable gardens, dusty, damp basements, dirty rooms);
• pets (including dogs, cats, humans, rats);
• bedding (takes up mattresses, pillows, bed linen);
• sandy (live on the sand, under furniture, carpeting).

Cruciferous fleas

In order not to confuse fleas with other insects, you should study their appearance:

• adult body size 5 mm;
• the sides of the body are flattened;
• color yellow-brown;
• jump high;
• The body of the parasites has bristles, with the help of which the fleas cling to the fur of animals and human clothing.

If parasites have appeared, you need to find out the reasons for their appearance in the living space and take the necessary measures to block access to new pests.

Disinfect your apartment from fleas

How to distinguish a human flea from an animal one

The appearance of human fleas is similar to that of other types of wingless insects. The main difference between Pulex Irritans is the presence of a flattened body on the sides. Thanks to this shape, human parasites easily move around the body and do not get tangled in the hair.

But experts are convinced that fleas that parasitize humans are almost impossible to distinguish with the naked eye. Therefore, only an entomologist can distinguish insects using a microscope or a photo where the parasite is increased in size.

Externally, human fleas are small brown grains that move. People often confuse fly larvae with the larvae of wingless insects, since they are almost identical in appearance.

Special signs of human fleas:

1. the body is black-brown in color.
2. Flattened body.
3. Lack of wings.
4. The body and paws are covered with hairs and hooks.

Removing fleas from pets

To rid your pets of parasites, you will need to treat the fur with insecticides. They are not dangerous for pets, but are harmful to fleas. There are many drugs and new options are constantly appearing. The most common are the following:

• Flea drops . They are easy to use and affordable. There are a number of contraindications, but if used correctly they will not cause harm. They choose the following: “Hartz”, “Rolf Club”, “Frontline”, “Advantage”, “Stronghold”;

Flea drops

• Shampoos . This option is suitable for animals that are walked several times a day. The effect lasts for weeks or months. Existing fleas are killed in one procedure. The following popular brands are: “Mr. Bruno”, “Bifar”, “Leonardo”, “Delix”, “Doctor Zoo”;

Popular shampoos for preventing fleas in animals

• Anti-flea collars . Their action is considered more reliable, since they protect the pet from fleas the entire time the collar is on. The following are common: “Kitlix”, “Hartz”, “Beaphar”;

Flea collars

• Insecticidal sprays . Parasites are eliminated in one application, but there are a number of contraindications. They are chosen when treating a pet in conjunction with removing insects from the house. “Bars”, “Hartz”, “Advantage”, “Frontline” are considered effective.

Sprays for the prevention of fleas and ticks
Injections, tablets and folk remedies are also used to remove parasites from the fur of cats and dogs. The drug is chosen after consulting a doctor.

Human flea development cycle

The life cycle of the human flea is similar to other species of wingless insects. The only differences are the laying of a huge number of eggs by the female (2000 in her entire life) and the parameters of adults.

Bloodsuckers go through 4 stages of development:

• eggs;
• larvae;
• cocoons;
• sexually mature individuals.

Having had enough, the female lays eggs in various places - bedspreads, wool, clothes, sofas, carpets, etc. Eggs mature in about two days.

After hatching, the larvae begin to actively absorb the excrement of adult insects and other waste. Pulex irritans go through several stages of development, and then they pupate.

To emerge from the cocoon, the parasite needs a favorable environment. Therefore, the time from the moment the egg develops to the hatching of a new individual can last from 15 days to a year.

Purchased flea products in the home: TOP 10

The following drugs received the highest ratings from users:

1. “Raptor” has a detrimental effect on the nervous system of insects, paralyzing them.
2. “Get” is effective not only against fleas, but also against ticks, cockroaches, moths and other pests.
3. "Raid" is a fast-acting aerosol that is convenient to store and use in the apartment.
4. Dichlorvos is a proven insect repellent. Now you can find odorless Dichlorvos on sale.
5. "Karbofos" is a universal, inexpensive drug that helps fight fleas.
6. “Clean House” is an insecticidal powder that kills insects and mice.
7. Sinuzan is a professional product that allows you to clean your home from pests.
8. “Butox 50” is a deltamethrin-based drug that eliminates all types of insects.
9. “Tsifoks” is a liquid, after using which the parasites die instantly.
10. “Biorin” is a very effective professional product, when using which it is necessary to protect the skin, mucous membranes and respiratory tract.

What is the danger to humans?

At first glance, human fleas appear to be relatively harmless. After all, they are microscopic in size, and small red dots remain at the site of their bite.

However, in the area where human insects have drunk blood, pulicosis often occurs.

This condition manifests itself with symptoms similar to allergies.:

• headache;
• rash;
• increased size of lymph nodes;
• suppuration;
• nervousness;
• formation of ulcers in the throat and mouth;
• sleep disorder;
• temperature increase.

Severe pain occurs at the sites of flea bites. The bloodsucker injects an enzyme into the wound that prevents blood clotting.

More serious consequences of flea parasitism on humans include allergic reactions of varying severity, hepatitis C and B, salmonellosis, brucellosis, tularemia, and encephalitis. Few people know that flea bites lead to the development of the Siberian plague, from which every 10 people died in past centuries.

Processing rules

In order to get rid of parasites for a long time and not be poisoned by insecticides, you need to competently approach the treatment of the room. It is important to pay attention not only to adults, but also to the eggs they lay. After applying any type of product, all windows, vents and doors must be closed for several hours so that the insects die. If necessary, the treatment is repeated after 5–7 days.

Preparing the premises for disinfection

Before bullying you should do the following:

• do wet cleaning;
• seal food and put it away;
• If you have an aquarium, you should close it tightly and turn off the compressor for a while.

Precautionary measures

In order not to be poisoned by an insecticide, it is necessary to take care of protecting the skin, mucous membranes and respiratory tract before treating the room. Animals should be removed from the room during the baiting.

Recommendations after processing is completed

A few hours after baiting fleas, you should ventilate the room well and wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth.

Install one or two dehumidifiers in your home

Insects living in a damp basement quickly move into the building. To avoid this, it is necessary to control the humidity level in the apartment. For normal functioning of fleas, an air humidity of 50% is required. If you reduce this indicator for at least two days, the insects will die and the development of their larvae will stop.

Wash your pet's supplies

It is necessary to wash the animal's bedding, as well as the rugs and bedspreads on which it likes to lie, at the highest possible temperature. There may be parasite larvae inside the mattress of a dog or cat, which will be difficult to get rid of. It is better to remove the old filler and replace it with a new one. Since insects also drink human blood, all bedding should be washed.

Answers to popular questions

There are a number of questions regarding human fleas that most people want to know the answers to. So, many people are interested in whether fleas can live in human hair. As mentioned above, wingless insects do not permanently live on mammals. But in order to get enough, parasites can climb onto all parts of the human body, including the head.

Where do fleas live? Bloodsuckers prefer to live near a food source, but in secluded corners.

Favorite places for parasites to live:

• carpets;
• pet bedding;
• basement;
• genital slits;
• pantry;
• bedspreads;
• cloth;
• baseboards;
• attic
• cushioned furniture.

In all these places, insects not only live, but also reproduce.

How long do fleas that drink human blood live? The average life cycle of the parasite is 2-3 months. Given comfortable conditions, the insect can survive up to 1.5 years.

Why don't fleas live on people? There are a number of factors that do not allow bloodsuckers to live on the human body. The first reason is that the body temperature of humans is lower than that of dogs or cats. The second factor is that a person maintains hygiene, the third is that people do not have thick fur where insects could hide.

Where do human fleas come from?

To get enough food, hungry insects can settle in the fur of dogs, rodents, birds or cats. Therefore, pets often bring parasites into their owners' homes.

Fleas can also appear on people after walking outside, where pests could easily jump onto clothes and shoes. Often, human parasites enter apartments from staircases or from neighbors . 90% of insects live in the basement, from where they easily enter the living space through walls and cracks.

It is noteworthy that the flea that bites humans is a modified species of insect. Pulex Irritans is a consequence of mutation and environmental characteristics. But despite the specific nature of the formation of this type, it can be destroyed using methods used to eliminate other parasites.

Do fleas feed on human blood?

All adult fleas feed exclusively on blood. Therefore, they choose any warm-blooded creature for themselves. If the food source moves or dies, the insect begins to starve.

When there is no animal near the parasites, they drink human blood . Therefore, when pests appear in the house, the first step is to remove them from your pets.

It is noteworthy that human fleas, in the absence of people, can also feed on the blood of birds and animals.

Can it be transmitted from cats or dogs?

Fleas bite warm-blooded animals, and the blood of dogs and cats is warmer than that of humans. Therefore, for wingless animals, domestic animals are considered a more convenient habitat.

Often, bloodsuckers, after satiation, jump off a living creature, looking for a more suitable place where they can lay eggs. There they remain until famine occurs. If a person is near the pests during this period, they will begin to drink his blood.

But bloodsuckers only occasionally jump from a dog or cat to a person. If this happens, then most likely your pet has contracted Pulex irritans.

Insects choose their host by smell. The stronger the smell of the food source, the more it will attract the bloodsucker.

The likelihood of becoming infected with fleas from dogs or cats increases if a person ends up in areas with large concentrations of bloodsuckers. In such cases, insects begin to drink the blood of any warm-blooded creatures that are nearby.

How dangerous are fleas for people and pets?

The presence of fleas in an apartment is unpleasant, first of all, because they bite all warm-blooded creatures, including people. The results of their bites can appear on the skin as red spots, inflammation and swelling, and some people may suffer from severe allergies. But the biggest danger is parasite-borne diseases such as sarcopsillosis and pulicosis. In addition, insects can be carriers of various parasites and pathogens of such dangerous diseases as Hepatitis; Brucellosis; Tick-borne encephalitis; Salmonellosis; Typhus; Myxomatosis and a number of others. There are over 25 diseases on this list. The most dangerous infectious fleas are those carried by rats. If they bite infected animals, they become infected from them, but do not die, but only become carriers of dangerous diseases. During the bite process, sick parasites infect their victim. It is especially dangerous when insects bite elderly people and small children. Typically, these bloodsuckers choose people who have thin, delicate skin, as it is easier for them to bite through it. If the skin is sensitive, then the bites will take a long time to heal and will be difficult, they will cause itching and cause aesthetic discomfort to the person. For women, the aesthetic component is especially unpleasant, since with bitten legs you will not be able to wear dresses in hot weather, but will have to cover yourself with trousers.

All these troubles can be avoided if, when these parasites are discovered, they are poisoned immediately.

How to treat bites with folk remedies? When a bite occurs, a person may not even notice it, since the insect produces and injects pain-relieving enzymes, allowing it to unhinderedly suck blood. Bite areas should be immediately treated with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol. If there is swelling, you can apply ice. Then lubricate with any antiseptic.

Why are there fleas in the apartment if there are no animals?

Listed above are the most well-known and common causes of fleas in an apartment, and even if you do not have a pet, they may apply to you. For example, if your neighbors have a pet, he may leave you a “surprise” in the form of fleas on the rug in front of the front door.

If you work in a warehouse or in a room with poor working conditions, where unsanitary conditions are widespread and incoming products are not checked, and the room is not regularly treated, then you can bring fleas on your work clothes. From the same room, fleas will go to the buyer of a new sofa or household appliances, and he will be perplexed - “where do the fleas come from in my clean apartment, where renovations were done just yesterday?”

Why are there fleas in cities?

Fleas are as common in cities as pigeons and crows. They first chose five-story buildings, and then the multi-story apartment buildings that appeared. In cities, fleas are comfortable: they do not freeze in winter, because apartments and basements are warm, they do not have to starve, because there are a large number of stray and domestic animals. And apartment buildings allow them to easily migrate and spread. Even if treatment has begun in one apartment, some of the fleas will have time to move into the next room through accessible exhaust systems or through an open door.

Established comfortable conditions contribute to con in cities and towns.