Fact Checked
Fleas are small insects that feed on blood of their host. Humans are not usually included as one of their potential hosts since they usually infest dogs, cats and rats. If there is a pet dog or cat in the house, there is a high risk of bitten sometimes by fleas.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6PiXuCFNJU”]The bites of fleas can cause an allergic reaction on the skin and spread diseases such as typhus. The saliva of fleas is capable of causing allergic dermatitis. The lesions usually occur in the ankles and the lower area of the leg. Sometimes, dermatitis can develop on the arms especially among those who lift their pets using their arms.
Symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis
- Difficulty in breathing
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- A raised red bump similar to a mosquito bite
- Chest pain
- Swelling of the lips and tongue
- Severe itching
Frequent scratching of the affected area can result to a secondary infection. - Hypersensitive individuals develop large hives after the bite and only limited to an area but can spread to other areas of the body.
- Development of a purple rash that can spread to other areas of the body.
- Symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis usually last for one week.
- Frequent scratching of the affected area can result to a secondary infection.
Treatment
- Wash the affected area using warm soapy water or any antiseptic solution to eliminate the bacteria around the bite site. Another way is washing the flea bites using green or black tea, comfrey tea or tea made from fresh or dried lavender flowers. Used tea bags can also be placed on the bitten area.
- Apply an ice pack on the bite site. Place ice cubes in plastic bag and wrap it with a towel and place it on the affected area for at least 10 minutes at 2 times every hour. If an ice pack is not available, a bag of frozen vegetable can be placed on the affected area to lessen the swelling, redness and itchiness.
- Apply regularly at least 2 times every day calamine lotion over flea allergy dermatitis to lessen the redness, swelling and itchiness of the area. Calamine lotion is effective for the fast healing of the lesions.
- Open a fresh leaf of an aloe vera plant and rub the gel into the bitten area to lessen the pain and inflammation.
- Take the prescribed medications if there is severe itchiness such as antihistamines.
Tips
- Eat plenty of garlic since fleas do not like the taste of garlic. Prepare dishes that have garlic or spread some garlic on bread.
- Prepare a citrus spray. Slice lemon into thin slices and mix with water and heat until boiling point. Let it sit over and in the morning spray on areas where there are plenty of fleas to prevent future flea bites.