Flea bites tend to be small. This can vary from person to person and depends
on the body’s natural reactions, but overall flea bites are tiny.
They also tend to be in clusters—three or four bites in a row or circle.
Fleas can bite over and over and do.
Another tip off that fleas are the offenders is the location of the bites.
Flea bites are often on the legs below the knees with clusters at the ankles.
Though fleas can jump up to six feet, they tend to bite low.
Flea bites are usually not noticed initially and do not start itching until
several hours after the fact. Since the bites are quite itchy, it’s common to
scratch the spots which can lead to infection. Some sensitive individuals will
develop blisters, but this is not so common.
Bites tend to cause itching and irritation for a week or so. Small red spots
may remain for several weeks, but they fade with time. Unless the bites have
been scratched excessively and/or have become infected, the small red spots
will not be permanent and will not leave scars.
Mosquito Bites
Bites left by mosquitoes are usually on exposed areas of the body like arms,
legs, feet, and hands. The bumps (wheals) are generally the size of a pencil
eraser and are bright red. Some sensitive individuals may have wheals as large
as a quarter.
In fact, mosquitoes don’t bite. The goal of the mosquito is the draw blood.
Only the female mosquito is involved in this blood sucking. Since the process
involves tapping the blood supply, the initial probe may involve a quick and
sharp pain while the saliva (inevitably left behind) causes the itching that
lingers.
Mosquito bites tend to itch for a few days and then slowly go away. If the
wheals are scratched and opened, then scabs form. These usually do not leave
scars, but they can if aggressively scratched and if the scabs are not treated
and left undisturbed to heal.
Though mosquito bites are usually not cause for alarm, some mosquitoes are
carriers of disease. The most recent concern with mosquitoes and bites is West
Nile Virus. Even if an individual is infected with West Nile,
only 1 in 5 will exhibit symptoms and about 1 in 150 will experience major
problems. Anyone who has been bitten by mosquitoes and then experiences
flu-like symptoms or problems like headache, neck stiffness, high fever should
contact a doctor. In rare cases, West Nile can cause
disorientation, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, or even coma.