Flea bites and preventive measures.
Humans are more
vulnerable to insect bites or flea bites.
But people having pets at home are more prone
to flea bites than the others. Fleas can be
of various kinds like human, cat and dog fleas.
Fleas are parasites which feed on mammal blood
and blood of birds and animals. They are eye
less insects and have mouth parts habitual
of chewing. They attack the host by their
proboscis, using their jaw, and transfer their
saliva in to the blood vessels which contain
anticoagulant and enzymes. This anticoagulant
doesn’t allow the blood to clot which
makes it easier for the fleas to suck blood.
Enzymes are the cause of various allergic
reactions in host body after the bite. Some
may feel itchy sensation and other can be
extremely allergic to them. Bites are characterized
with red marks, with itchy skin patches around
it. Children have more severe bites then adults
because their skin is more sensitive in nature.
They heal on their own but for speedy recovery
you can use various medicated creams and steroid
lotions. Procedures for treating flea bites
are:
1) Always wash the affected area with
an antiseptic soaps or solution.
2) Then put an ice pack on the swelled
area which will ease the irritation
3) Calamine lotion or creams like hydrocortisone
can be applied there after.
4) Various home remedies for fleas can
also be used for treating them.
The scars of flea bites will go with time
as there is no proper treatment for bite scars.
Fleas lay eggs in dusty areas, cracks, animals
and their beddings, rugs and mats all at ground
level. They can even jump to a height of two
feet and reside near the ground. This makes
them attack the ankles and lower portions
of the legs of the host’s body.
In case of flea bites, the only way out is
prevention and proper care of the pets. Various
preventive measures are listed below:
1) Pets are more exposed to flea attacks
so they should be kept clean by using antiseptic
shampoos.
2) Pet area especially their beddings
should also be kept clean by spraying insecticides
and insect growth regulators.
3) Then comes the turn of your house,
which should be thoroughly cleaned from time
to time especially in the nooks and corners
which are the breeding grounds for the fleas.
4) Flea combs can also be used for cleaning
adult fleas.
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