Can Fleas Give You Lice?
WouterFleas are small, external wingless insects that infest animals, including cats and dogs. They feed on the blood of the host and multiply rapidly. A flea can lay as many as 20-30 eggs per day. Fleas are known as vectors because they carry various diseases through their bites. They can also spread tapeworms and parasites to humans and other animals. Fleas are most common during warm weather and tend to prefer cool, damp areas that provide shade. They live in cracks in the floor or in furniture.
The symptoms of lice infection can be unpleasant, ranging from extreme itchiness to painful blisters. The most common areas of infection are the head and pubic area. Body lice can cause secondary skin infections, which can be difficult to treat and can lead to sores. In addition, lice can transmit serious diseases like typhus and European relapsing fever. Their excreta can also cause serious scalp infections.
Both fleas and lice are ectoparasites. While they can be transmitted to humans through close contact and a contaminated environment, it is rare that a flea-infested pet can pass them directly onto humans. Although lice can infect even well-cared pets, they are more likely to affect animals that are neglected or living in shabby conditions.
In developed countries, fleas can transmit minor diseases. Global warming and international travel may cause the number of infectious diseases to increase. Fleas can also carry plague. In the southwestern United States, they can carry plague, which is transmitted from one rodent to another.
