If you are dealing with a flea infestation in your home, you might be wondering if flea bites will make you sick. Although it is not easy to believe that these tiny creatures could make you ill, they cause health issues for humans and pets.
Typically, flea bites leave little, pinkish-red spots or welts on the skin that can be quite itchy. Because fleas do not have wings, they move around by crawling or jumping about a foot high. This is the reason you may find flea bites clustered on your feet and ankles. Aside from bites, fleas can carry dangerous diseases and parasites such as murine typhus and tapeworms that can be transmitted to humans.
Signs Your Pets Have Fleas
Fleas are tiny, brown insects that can move fast through the fur of your pet. You might find flea dirt at the base of the hairs near the skin or on your pet’s skin, particularly around the belly or the top of the back legs. If your pet has an allergic reaction to flea bites, its skin could be pink and swollen. Because of excessive scratching, your pet may have flaky skin or missing patches of fur.
For most people, the worst thing about flea bites is the itchy discomfort they cause. But, for others, these bites can result in bigger issues. Determining whether you have been bitten by a flea, a bed bug, a tick, or a spider can be difficult. Plus, fleas are not easy and quick to deal with since their population grows fast. Because of this, you can only get rid of fleas in your home by getting the help of a pest exterminator. This exterminator knows how to treat fleas in all stages of their life cycle. Also, they know how to treat each area of your home and yard that might be hosting fleas.
Are Light Traps Effective in Getting Rid of Fleas?
Adult fleas are attracted to both light and warmth. Thus, light traps can be an effective tool to get rid of fleas. However, they are not enough to control an entire infestation. To find these hosts, fleas detect warmth and carbon dioxide rising off their bodies. That is why flea traps that involve light can help get rid of these pests. But, these traps don’t address flea eggs, pupae, or larvae. All stages of the flea life cycle must be addressed to resolve a flea infestation. Some of the steps you can take to help fight against fleas in your home include frequent vacuuming, regular sheets washing, using a flea comb on your pets, and having your pets treated for fleas.