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Are there human fleas? What are the dangers of being bitten by a human flea? What does a human flea look like? Is it possible to clearly determine where the bites come from? What preparations should be used to soothe bite marks? The question is answered by the drug. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski.
- Human fleas feed on blood, which is why red bite marks appear on the body
- After injection, there is severe itching caused by the secretion produced by the flea
- The bite site should not be scratched. This may result in the need to use an antibiotic
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Should you be concerned about human fleas?
Hello. I am 36 years old and have a rather unusual question. I think I was bitten by a flea, I do not know if it is possible, but I found information that there is such a species as human flea. I came back from my trip, the conditions were not the best, I came back from bites on the back and both hands. Is the human flea dangerous? What exactly does a human flea look like?
Bites have a form red shifts, some of them are pink, slightly convex, I feel itchy, I know that I cannot scratch these lesions so that I do not get an infection. I don’t know what to do or should I go to the doctor to find out if it really is flea bite? Are there over-the-counter remedies at the pharmacy that will help me relieve bite symptoms?
I wonder if I should get specialized blood tests because I think human fleas can transmit disease. I also don’t know how long flea bite marks last on the body. I am asking for an honest answer, because I do not know what I should do, the changes have been going on for quite a long time.
The doctor explains whether human fleas are dangerous
Ladies and Gentlemen, the human flea is an external parasite that lives on humans, but also on dogs, cats, rats and foxes. When it comes to the size of a human flea, the female is approximately 2.5-3.5 mm in length and the male is approximately 2.0-2.5 mm in length. Adult human flea it feeds on blood, therefore the host has many red lesions which are small and can be flat or convex.
In addition, after the sting, there is a strong itching caused by irritation the secretion produced by a flea. Skin lesions must not be scratched due to the possibility of bacterial superinfection, which may require antibiotic therapy. In terms of pathogenicity, the human flea can transmit various bacteria, including Yersinia pestis causing the plague, Francisella tularensis causing tularemia, and the well-known golden staphylococcus (Staphylococcus aureus). Unfortunately, I am not able to determine whether the skin changes on your body are related to the human flea, so you should see a doctor.
Until the visit, you can use antiallergic drugs to relieve itching, they will be indicated both orally and topically. About 3 days after being bitten by a flea, the lesions should disappear. Self-observation after contact with fleas is recommended, and testing for flea-borne disease is generally not performed. Of course, there is nothing to prevent such research from being carried out. If in doubt, apart from visiting your GP, I suggest that you contact your infectious disease doctor.
– Lek. Paweł Żmuda-Trzebiatowski
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