We know that fleas bite pets, which makes poor animals scratch and suffer from itching and inflammation. In fact, humans are also prone to flea allergy caused by substances contained in flea saliva. It manifests itself into skin redness, irritation, severe itching and other unpleasant symptoms.
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First Aid After Flea Bites
The first piece of advice is not to ignore flea bites! Did you know that these pests transmit cat fever, plague, bartonellosis and many other serious infections? Yes, the insects are potentially dangerous for both kids and adults. So what can be done to reduce risks and relieve further symptoms?
- Wash the wounds and red spots with cold tap water and soap. If it starts itching, ice can help temporarily.
- Apply spirit, hyperoxide or some other anti bacterial agent on bites to prevent infection.
- If you suffer from itching or inflammation, take anti allergic medications (pills, drops, etc.).
- Apply calamine cream or lotion to ease itching and swelling. Doesn’t help? Antithistamine pills will save you.
- Do not scratch the bites! First, you promote more inflammation. Secondly, you increase the risk of infection transmission, letting bacteria under the damaged skin.
Against Allergy and itching antihistamines help.
If the infestation is serious, and you have many bites that cause allergy and other negative skin reactions, visit a doctor and pass medical tests. Forewarned is forearmed: if you check for bacteria and viruses beforehand, it will be easier to cure down the road.
What Do Flea Bites Look Like?
Looks like the flea bites.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reaction will depend on a person’s health and resistance to toxins contained in flea saliva. People who are sensitive to these bites can face with some kind of hives that manifests into red bumps and bubbles on the affected area. These areas burn, itch and inflame more, if being scratched.
Some other symptoms of allergy include:
- Chest pain and difficulty during breathing;
- Dizziness;
- Nausea;
- Swelling of tongue or lips.
All that occurs in rare cases, when people are very sensitive to bites. In some cases, even anaphylactic shock can take place. But, as a rule, redness, swelling and itching is maximum damage done by fleas.
If allergy develops, what do flea bites look like? As a rule, these are clusters of red spots that can grow bigger and swell. The pictures below show that clearly:
These small red traces can turn into bubbles and hives, so even 5-10 bites locally may affect a huge part of body.
How to Treat Flea Allergy?
If allergic dermatitis stays untreated, it may turn into severe skin problems and cause a lot of discomfort. But you can purchase many effective remedies for it in the Net and local pharmacies:
- Topical corticosteroids comprise the most part of treatment. It reduces skin inflammation and promotes faster healing. Usually, a 2 week or 3 week course is required. In case of severe skin damage, corticosteroid tablets and injections are prescribed.
- If skin inflammation is minor, hydrocortisone cream may deal with it. There is an abundance of over the counter that are quite effective and way more affordable.
- In most cases, doctors recommend trying prescription corticosteroid cream and oral antihistamine to reduce inflammation.
- In some rare occasions, when dermatitis is severe and skin state decays, immunosuppressive agents may be used. Remedies containing azathioprine, mycophenolate or cyclosporine are recommended.
- Pimecrolimus (Elidel cream) is widely spread for treating dermatitis on face skin.
- Tacrolimus (Protopic ointment) is recommended for relieving dermatitis on hands.
Undoubtedly, these medications are to be prescribed, basing on the symptoms of flea bites and complications caused by them.
Good and effective drugs may prescribe only doctor.
