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What Are Fleas?

Fleas are tiny parasites that feed on blood. They are mainly found in domestic animals such as dogs and cats but can also be carried by wildlife.

They bite humans in areas like the feet, ankles, and lower legs. The flea bites usually look like small red dots with a central red spot. They may also have a light halo around them.

Fleas are bloodsuckers

Fleas are blood-sucking parasites of many animals, including humans and pets. They are also an important vector of several infectious diseases, including plague and murine typhus.

They can transmit the rare Bubonic Plague and the bacterial disease murine typhus to humans through infected rats. They can also transfer tapeworms to dogs, cats and other domestic animals.

When they bite, they pierce the skin to draw blood. This causes itching and red, irritated bumps.

Their saliva contains anticoagulants to keep blood flowing. They are a common ectoparasite on domestic animals and they can cause serious allergic reactions in pets.

The flea life cycle involves three stages: egg, larva and pupa. The egg hatches in the animal’s environment. The larvae feed on feces, bits of dead skin and feathers and other organic debris. They then become pupae, spinning silken cocoons.

They can carry diseases

Fleas are bloodsuckers and a common host for many bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can be dangerous to humans. Depending on the species of fleas, they can carry diseases like spotted fever, plague, and murine typhus.

They can also spread tapeworms and other parasites, which can cause health problems if swallowed accidentally. These parasites can be difficult to detect in people and pets, which is why they are one of the most serious risks of flea infestations.

Adult fleas are small, wingless insects with tough cuticles and combs (ctenidia) of broad flattened spines that anchor them in hair, fur, and feathers. They can vary in length from 0.1 to 0.32 cm, and feed exclusively on blood.

They eat blood directly or from blood pools produced by the bite of their mouthparts, which have barbed stylets. Females require a blood meal before developing their eggs. They engorge between 0.013 and 0.2 ul of blood during each feeding event.

They can cause itching

Fleas inject saliva into your dog or cat's skin when they bite. This saliva contains proteins and antigens that can trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive pets.

This reaction causes itchiness that lasts longer than normal. A single fleabite can cause itching that lasts up to two weeks.

The most obvious symptom of a flea bite is a red bump that looks like a mosquito bite. The bump is usually one puncture point, unlike the bites of other insects that produce two marks.

Another symptom is itching that can be relieved with over-the-counter anti-itch medicines and creams. You can also use a cold pack to reduce swelling and itching.

A healthcare provider may diagnose a flea, mite, or chigger bite based on your medical history and physical exam. They will ask you about your living conditions and the area of your body that you were bitten. They will also check for other health problems that look similar to your rash.

They can cause infections

Fleas may be responsible for a few infections, including the bacterial plague (Yersinia pestis) and typhus. Both diseases are transmitted to humans by flea bites.

Plague is a serious illness that’s mainly found in rural areas of Africa and Asia. The disease is transmitted by flea bites or through contact with infected wild animals such as rats, raccoons and opossums.

The bacteria Yersinia pestis spreads from the skin of an infected animal to the human host when fleas feed on an infected animal. It can cause severe illnesses, including bleeding in the skin and blood clots in the fingers and toes that can lead to gangrene and amputations.

Tularaemia, a rare infection that’s endemic in Europe, is also spread by flea bites. This parasitic disease causes swollen lymph nodes in the neck and arm that can lead to a painful itchy infection.