Imagine waking up in the morning and seeing a red mark on your hand. You’d be worried. You wouldn’t be able to tell which insect’s bite it is. Most insect bites look the same in the beginning, especially bed bug bites and flea bites. That is why it becomes hard for anyone to discern which insect was sucking on your blood.
Why only bed bugs and fleas? Why not other insects? Well, bed bug bites and flea bites are different from other insects because they look like a group of tiny dots. That’s how you know you were bitten by either a flea or a bed bug. Now you have to determine which of these was it.
And, one of the most common ways of differentiating between their bite is the place where they have bitten. You’d mostly observe flea bites at the lower half of the body. However, bed bug bites are usually at the upper half of your body. When people notice that these bugs are present in their house, they may consider contacting the pest control company to get the best possible treatment as soon as possible.
In this article, we will learn more about the bites from the bed bug and the fleas. We will look at the symptoms and treatments of each of them.
Flea Bites
Fleas are blood-sucking insects. Around five percent of the flea would be present on the pets. And, that’s how it gets access to the humans. They are unable to fly, but they can jump up to 18 centimeters. The bad part is that they don’t waste their time when they get on the host. They start biting. Flea bites are small in size. Let’s find out more about its symptoms and treatments.
Symptoms of Flea Bites
One of the most common symptoms of the flea bite is the red mark and severe itching. They could bite you in multiple areas, which includes:
- Ankles
- Feet and lower legs
- Ankles
- Elbows and knees
Treatment of Flea Bites
The very first thing people should consider doing is to wash the area with soap and water. Beware not to use hot water as it could worsen the itch. Anti-itch creams could be effective as well. On the other hand, people can also use antihistamines if they are allergic.
Bedbug Bites
Similar to fleas, bed bugs also feed on blood. If we talk about their appearance, they are reddish-brown, and they are an oval shape. People won’t find them out during the day because they don’t come out of their hiding places. But, they are active at night.
Symptoms of Bed bugs
They bite on the upper half of the body most of the time, like the face, arms, and neck. The place where the bed bugs bite immediately turns dark red. There’s also slight swelling in that area. You could observe them in a cluster or a line. Make sure that you avoid scratching them as it could worsen the bite.
Treatment of Bed Bug Bites
There is no specific treatment for the bed bug bite as the bites usually heal by themselves in a week or two. However, if the bite doesn’t disappear in a few days or if you scratch it, contact a physician immediately.
Conclusion
You don’t have to panic if a bed bug or a flea has had its way with you. It is not something that needs immediate medical treatment. However, you may monitor the bite and see if it’s getting better. And also if there is no allergic reaction to them.
Prevention of these insects is a hassle. The best option is to contact a bed bug exterminator pro, who would make sure that they use modern bed bug and flea control to get rid of them.