What Fleas Can Do to Humans

When fleas bite you, they can cause itching and bleeding under the skin. You may also feel pain in your chest, abdomen, muscles, or joints. Some people may even develop small pimples or discolored blisters. Fleas can also carry parasites that can cause serious health problems.

Fleas are common household pests that bite humans and pets. They usually appear during the warmer months and feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. Their ability to jump 150 times their body length allows them to latch onto people’s shoes, pant legs, picnic blankets, and clothes. They can also infest bedding. Fleas can reproduce quickly, laying up to 400 eggs in a 100-day lifespan.

Human fleas can also carry Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague. This disease was a common cause of death in the Middle Ages, and it can affect humans today. Those infected can become seriously ill and die. While fleas are not very common in the United States, the disease they carry can cause serious health problems.

Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of fleas from your home. Fleas can be killed with insecticides or by modifying your environment.