Are Fleas Bad For Humans?
WouterKeeping fleas outdoors is difficult, but you can help reduce your chances of getting them by adjusting your environment and using targeted insecticides. Flea treatments are the best option if you have pets, but if you’re concerned about the flea population in your home, there are some things you can do.
One way to prevent fleas from causing an infection is to avoid scratching them. Scratching an infected flea bite will only aggravate the itch and may push harmful bacteria into an open sore. Once this happens, your skin may swell, become red and oozing, and become crusty or infected. Flea bites can also carry diseases such as typhus or bubonic plague, which can be life-threatening if ingested.
Flea bites are extremely itchy and can be treated at home with antihistamines. However, if they become infected, you should see a doctor to get them treated properly. You may need to take antibiotics if you notice pus coming from the flea bite.
Adult flea bites can carry several different pathogens, including plague and typhus. These two diseases are present in many areas of the world, and are transmitted to humans through rodents. In the United States, plague is transmitted to humans by several species of flea, including the oriental rat flea, which lives in rats.
