Fleas are insects that usually live on pets, but they can bite humans too. They are blood sucking insects that jump from one feeding ground to another and are able to jump to distances up to sixteen inches. The female fleas lay their eggs 48 hours after a blood meal and can lay around 200 eggs in a few days time. Full grown fleas can go for months without a meal. The flea bites by cutting through the skin with its jaws. It usually infests the legs and feet as these areas are more easily accessible. The flea injects saliva in order to prevent the blood from clotting and also to allow the blood to flow easily. The area where the bite has occurred becomes a red and hard bump. There may also be itching and if the area is scratched repeatedly, it could also bleed and infection could also develop. In the center of the bump, there will be a puncture point visible where the skin was penetrated. All the reactions to flea bites are not the same. Some people are more prone to flea bites while others are not.
Fleas are capable of transmitting various diseases between the hosts. These diseases include murine typhus, bubonic plague and others. They can also pass on tapeworm larvae to the hosts. The species of fleas that commonly infest humans are dog fleas, cat fleas and human fleas. If fleas are commonplace and flea bites occur frequently, it would be a good idea to treat the home, surroundings and pets with insecticide.
When bitten by a flea, you need to cleanse the area thoroughly. Use antiseptic soap or lotion to wash the affected area. Cold water is better as warm water tends to stimulate blood circulation and this could encourage itching. Applying a cold compress over the bite will also help. Place an ice pack directly over the area in order to bring down the swelling. It is important not to scratch the area of the bite as this would pose the risk for infection. You can mix a bit of water with baking soda and apply to the bite. You can also apply tea tree oil to disinfect the area. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and will help to protect the body from possible infections resulting from the bite. You can mash some garlic cloves and black peppers and mix together with a little water. You can have a spoon of this mixture to help to prevent infections and boost your immunity levels. Increase the intake of garlic through your diet. Margosa oil can be used as an insecticide and can be applied to the furniture or other surfaces in the home. Diatomaceous earth may also be put into the crevices of the house to trap and dry out the fleas.