What Happens If You Eat Fleas?
WouterFleas are small, wingless insects. They are approximately one-twelfth of an inch long, and can range from reddish brown to black in color. Their mouthparts are designed to pierce the skin, cutting a blood vessel. The flea then uses this cut to suck the blood from the host’s skin. Once it has sucked up a meal, the flea’s salivary glands open up and produce an anticoagulant to prevent the blood from clotting.
Fleas can also transmit diseases, including tapeworms, to humans. They transmit these diseases to humans and animals through their bites. Likewise, fleas feed on the eggs of other parasites, like tapeworms, which then grow in the gut.
Fleas are common and often come in contact with the skin of pets and people. The most common type of flea-transmitted disease is the Bubonic Plague. This disease caused a pandemic in the 14th century and killed as many as 25 million people, or nearly half of Europe’s population. Another flea-transmitted disease is called Murine Typhus, which is only found in tropical regions and in rat-infested areas.
If you think you may have a flea allergy, consult your physician or other health care provider immediately. Flea saliva contains an anticoagulant and can cause skin dermatitis in humans. The allergic reaction causes redness and itchiness in the affected area.
