What do fleas do on a person? - briefly
Fleas bite humans to obtain blood, resulting in itchy, irritated skin. Their bites can also serve as a vector for bacterial infections such as murine typhus or plague.
What do fleas do on a person? - in detail
Fleas that land on a human seek blood meals. Their mouthparts pierce the skin, inject saliva containing anticoagulants, and draw blood. The saliva provokes a localized allergic reaction, producing a red, itchy welt that may become inflamed if scratched. Repeated bites can lead to hypersensitivity, causing larger welts and prolonged discomfort.
While feeding, fleas remain attached only briefly; they jump away after engorgement. Their ability to leap up to 150 times their body length enables rapid movement across clothing, hair, or exposed skin. Fleas do not reproduce directly on a person; eggs are deposited in the surrounding environment—bedding, carpets, or pet fur—and require darkness and humidity to develop.
Potential health concerns include:
- Transmission of bacterial pathogens such as Rickettsia (causing murine typhus) or Yersinia pestis (historically linked to plague).
- Allergic dermatitis from repeated exposure to flea saliva.
- Secondary infection from scratching, which can introduce skin flora into lesions.
Control measures focus on eliminating the external habitat: laundering bedding at high temperatures, vacuuming carpets, treating pets with veterinary‑approved insecticides, and applying environmental sprays where infestations are established. Personal protection involves wearing long sleeves, using topical repellents containing DEET or picaridin, and promptly washing any area where fleas have been observed.