Because my dad is a veterinarian doctor, I grew up with several additional medical knowledge, it is that, apart from growing up surrounded by animals, I learned about pharmacology, symptoms, and among other things, the evaluation with the naked eye such as being able to recognize a spider, ant or even flea bite.

Fleas (Siphonaptera) are insects that belong to the invertebrate group of arthropods and, specifically, hematophagous, to which other insects such as bed bugs, mosquitoes, or ticks belong. They are small insects that do not fly but do jump, and that feed on fluids obtained from animals or humans.

The reactions to the bites of this type of insect are usually local, that is, with itching, redness, and edema circumscribed in the area where the arthropod bites. However, long-lasting and severe swelling and even systemic or generalized allergic reactions can occur in susceptible individuals. Most of these reactions usually occur from Hymenoptera stings, that is, wasps and bees.

Although the size of the fleas is very small, between two or four millimeters, a flea can jump, approximately, about 20 centimeters vertically and twice if it does horizontally. After jumping to the new host, these insects attach themselves using small claws on the ends of their legs.

How To Identify a Flea Bite and What Symptoms Does It Cause?

Symptoms of a flea bite usually appear immediately and include redness or bumps in the affected area, as well as an itch that can be severe. Although it usually only causes temporary discomfort, a flea bite can transmit serious diseases such as bubonic plague or typhus.

These bites are often confused with other insects such as bed bugs or mosquitoes. In this sense, next, I explain how to differentiate them:

•    Shape: It is a bump with a small point in the center from the peck. After the fleas bite, they live, that does not happen with ticks, for example.
•    Arrangement of the bites in a row: several bites usually appear together forming a line.
•    Itching.
•    Bite site: they appear mainly on the ankles, elbows, knees, and folds such as the groin, armpits, for example.
•    Another way to recognize them is by the traces of blood that can be found on clothing or sheets. Fleas can suck blood up to 20 times the capacity of their stomach.

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How To Treat a Flea Bite?

In the event that a flea bites us, the first thing to do is wash it well with soap and water to remove the rest of germs, and, later, you can try to apply cold to relieve inflammation. You should not scratch the bite, as it could cause wounds and infections.

Generally, a flea bite per se is not treated or treatment is sought unless accompanied by allergic or other symptoms. Usually, no treatment is received, with the possible exception of the application of a cream. In allergy cases, the use of antihistamines will reduce symptoms. It may be necessary to inject epinephrine in cases of anaphylactic shock and/or the use of glucocorticoids. If any type of bacteria has been transmitted, antibiotic medication will tend to be used.

So in the event of a severe allergic reaction with other symptoms such as difficulty breathing or general swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or eyelids, you should go to a health center immediately.

Some Flea Transmitted Diseases

As a general rule, a flea bite is annoying but does not usually cause major complications. However, as with mosquitoes, there is a danger that they carry some type of virus or bacteria that can transmit some type of disease.

Not surprisingly, it was the flea bite that caused the spread of one of the greatest pandemics in history: the Black Death. This disease was introduced in Europe by the fleas of rats that traveled in the boats, through the transmission of the bacterium Yersinia pestis, and caused the death of between thirty and sixty percent of the population in all the territory by the one that expanded (at that time most of the known world).

Although the bubonic plague (which generated buboes and caused notable swelling of the lymph nodes) is the one that generated the greatest pandemic and the most common and well-known, the truth is that there are also pneumonic plagues, neurological plagues, and septicemic plague. Although today it is not considered the pandemic that it once was, there are still some cases of this disease around the world.

Apart from the plague, it has been seen that flea bites can transmit diseases such as typhus or leishmaniasis, among many others. You can also introduce tapeworm or tapeworm eggs if the flea is accidentally or voluntarily ingested (for example by some children). These diseases can be spread within the same species or passed to others, and it is not impossible for them to be transmitted from animal to human or vice versa.

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What is important is prevention: the hygiene of the environment and of the person and/or pets will hinder the possibility of infestation. Likewise, it is essential to keep vaccinations for both people and animals up to date so that they cannot be infected with certain diseases. In pets, it is recommended to use pipettes that avoid the approach of fleas. Special care must be taken with pregnant women and children, as they are at greater risk.


Be aware that flea eggs are white in color and may be difficult to see on the floor. Therefore, if we have pets, it is important to clean the floor daily and if possible, cut their hair and bathe them from time to time, especially if they are going for a walk.

Also, if you have carpets at home, they should be washed. Flea eggs hatch two days to two weeks later, hatching white larvae that are found indoors, crevices in the floor, along baseboards, under the edges of rugs, or on furniture or beds. In addition, each flea can lay between 40 to 50 eggs per day and more than 600 in its lifetime. That is why we can quickly go from having one flea to thousands in the house.

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