What disease can a person contract from fleas? - briefly
Flea bites transmit plague, a severe bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis. They also act as vectors for murine typhus, which is caused by Rickettsia typhi.
What disease can a person contract from fleas? - in detail
Fleas serve as vectors for several bacterial infections that affect humans. The most notorious is the plague, caused by the bacterium «Yersinia pestis». Transmission occurs when infected fleas bite a person or when contaminated flea feces enter a skin abrasion. After an incubation period of two to six days, the disease may present as bubonic plague, characterized by painful swollen lymph nodes, fever, chills, and malaise. If the bacteria spread to the lungs, pneumonic plague develops, producing cough, hemoptysis, and rapid respiratory failure. Septicemic plague, a bloodstream infection, leads to hypotension, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and high mortality without prompt antibiotic therapy. First‑line treatment consists of streptomycin, doxycycline, or gentamicin administered intravenously; early intervention dramatically reduces fatality rates.
Another flea‑borne illness is murine typhus, an endemic febrile illness caused by «Rickettsia typhi». Fleas acquire the pathogen from infected rodents and transmit it to humans through contaminated feces that are scratched into the skin. Symptoms emerge after a one‑ to two‑week incubation and include fever, headache, rash, and mild abdominal pain. Doxycycline is the drug of choice; patients typically recover within a week of therapy.
Cat‑scratch disease, linked to the bacterium «Bartonella henselae», can also be transmitted by the cat flea. Although the primary route is a scratch or bite from an infected cat, flea feces may contaminate claws and facilitate transmission. Clinical manifestations consist of a regional lymphadenopathy near the inoculation site, low‑grade fever, and occasional hepatosplenomegaly. Azithromycin or doxycycline are effective treatments for severe or persistent cases.
Flea‑borne spotted fever, caused by «Rickettsia felis», presents with fever, headache, maculopapular rash, and sometimes an eschar at the bite site. Diagnosis relies on PCR or serology; doxycycline remains the recommended therapy.
Prevention strategies focus on flea control in domestic animals and the environment, use of insecticidal collars for pets, regular cleaning of living spaces, and avoidance of contact with wild rodents. Protective clothing and prompt removal of flea bites reduce the risk of infection.