How Do Fleas Get on Humans?
WouterFleas are small insects that live on animals, including cats and dogs. When they bite humans, they can transmit several important illnesses. Some of these illnesses can be fatal if you do not get rid of these pests. Other diseases they carry include cat scratch disease and bedbugs. They are tiny, blood-sucking creatures that only come out at night and hide in carpets and mattresses. Fortunately, there are many ways to protect yourself from flea bites, and some of them are natural, easy, and inexpensive.
Fleas live in warm environments and are most active during warmer months, though they can also live in colder climates. Unlike lice, fleas do not cling to humans, and most pets do not transmit them to humans. Fleas that land on humans most likely picked them up from another person.
Fleas can also carry deadly diseases. Murine typhus, a type of disease caused by fleas, is rare in the United States, but it can infect humans if they come in contact with infected animals. The symptoms of murine typhus typically develop within two weeks of an infection. It is treatable with antibiotics.
Flea bites are typically smaller than mosquito bites and usually appear in clusters. They can be quite itchy or only slightly itchy. Flea bites are more common on the feet and ankles. They can cause skin infections, and they are very dangerous in severe infestations. They carry bacteria that can lead to other health problems.
