Blood suckers from antiquity, fleas have been living on our planet longer than we have, and going by the sturdiness of their lifestyle, may be around longer than we shall be. But here are a few information bytes on how to handle a flea infestation in your home and life.

To know about how best to win a war, it helps to have insider information about the enemy. Similarly, to handle a flea infestation house, knowing about their lifecycle is important. Fleas are tiny, only 1/8th of an inch, horizontally flat, very dark red in color and wingless. They have very strong and sharp, piercing mouths that come in handy for sucking in their favorite meal, blood. Most start life as microscopic eggs that turn into tiny larvae. These will later become pupae, snug inside tiny cocoons. In our life, these cocoons snuggle into our carpets, upholstery and other comfortable places. These cocoons with their smart pupae wait for something warm blooded to come along, so they can start their life. As soon as it does, they crack open their cocoon, and within just a few seconds, launch themselves onto the often unwary host who is more often than not ignorant of this invasion. There they proceed to sharpen their fangs and suck blood. If this was a female flea, she could start laying more eggs within a few days of her first blood meal…and go on for her entire lifecycle.

Most frequent Areas of Flea Infestations

Studies have shown an alarmingly high incidence of flea infestation on carpets and pets. The carpets we think are adding grace to our interiors are actually the hotbed of flea infestation, since they are the most warm, untouched and soft place that flees can find to lay eggs. A willing female flea can lay up to 50 eggs in a day and each of these can cause innumerable diseases.

Another pet place for fleas is our furry cuddly pets. They can not only hide undetected in the fur, but also suck blood at leisure, often making the pet anemic or even sick. They can also travel on to your vehicle and its upholstery, especially since that’s one area of warm, soft fabric that is not very regularly washed and cleaned.

Furniture is another favorite place for flea infestations. Usually it’s carried by pets to these other places too. Eggs can drop off on tables, sofas and vehicles upholstery too, while our pets take a romp on them.

Diseases Caused by Flea Infestations

To understand the seriousness of the information following, we need to be aware of the kind of risks we put ourselves to, when fleas infest our homes, family pets and even vehicles. Some of the lesser known diseases caused by fleas include Murine Typhus and Tungiasis. Murine Typhus is an infection that causes fever headache, chills, body aches and pains and in most cases needs a blood test for correct diagnosis. Tungiasis is usually caused by the female of a particular variety of flea called sand flea. She burrows through the skin on the feet, breeds and settles in there, causing lacerations and painful ulcers and this may even lead to tetanus or gangrene if left untreated. Some fleas also cause transmission of worms like tapeworm between humans and pets.

More frightening is the flea that lodges on rats, and through their blood, carries the deadly bacteria, Yersinia Pestis, that causes plague.

Getting Rid of Flea Infestations

Most of the ways to get rid of fleas have to do with cleaning up the house, especially fabric dominant furnishings like carpets, curtains, and most importantly, pets bedding.

The most important thing is to remember that once the cleanup process starts, it will have to include fleas from all life stages. Eggs will have to scrubbed out, larvae and pupae removed and adult fleas destroyed.

The vacuum cleaner will be a handy tool for cleaning up the carpets and furniture. Using disposable dust bags for the cleaner will ensure that the fleas cleaned out will not find their way back in. Always remember to vacuum clean under couches and beds. However, to remove eggs and larvae, the vacuum cleaner may not suffice. Adult fleas can be flushed out easily but the larvae can’t, so the option is to shampoo the carpets regularly. Some carpet cleaning chemicals may also help, for instance, try spraying diatomaceous earth (DE) on the carpets, in cracks and crevices of furniture and all over rugs. In fact rugs should be machine washed regularly, and so should bedding of pets. One could opt for borate based carpet cleaners, or borate powder can be mixed in a rug shampooing machine for cleaning up the rug well off flea eggs and larvae.

A good strategy will be to combine a chemical that kills adult fleas with insect development inhibitors like Mithoprene and Pyriproxyfen that will prevent the eggs and larvae from developing into adults. Borate based powders are also effective against fleas for up to one year. There is no need for steam cleaning after applying these but be sure to spread it well, under beds, couches and all over rugs and carpets. All of these chemical treatments should be followed by thorough vacuuming.

Of course, severe infestation needs professional consultation. To keep your carpet free of fleas the best idea is to regularly shampoo and vacuum the mats and upholstery.

Pets too need thorough clean up to avoid flea infestations. The poor mute creatures suffer horribly due to these tiny pests. The best remedy is to regularly brush your pet with a flea comb, with some petroleum jelly on it, specially checking in areas between toes, underarms and behind ears. Giving a daily bath is also a good idea since fleas cannot live in water. While brushing them out be sure that the dead or sticking fleas are collected in a mug of water that is immediately flushed down the toilet so they cannot jump out again.
However in case of severe infestation, it is advisable to see a vet and get proper medication under medical supervision.

Home Remedies to Deal with Flea Infestations

Some recommended home remedies to ward off flea infestations are here, but it is important to note that none of these will be very effective if the infestation is very severe already.

• The plant Pennyroyal is said to be a flea repellent, it can be planted around the house or kept indoors too.
• Similarly pieces of Cedar wood kept under beds, and in corners around the house act as flea repellents. Eucalyptus leaves, in many cases, do the same job, and quite effectively.
• To keep your pets free of fleas, steep six cut lemons in half in a quart of water for a few hours. Spray this liquid onto your pet’s coat. Avoid the eyes. Similar solutions can be made using natural repellents like neem, cedar, eucalyptus and rosewood. However, if your pet is already suffering from severe infestation, it may not help greatly.
• Some essential oils like Lemongrass, Lavender and Citronella can also help in keeping your pets free of fleas, and at the same time has a soothing as well as healing effect on them

By Kanika Goswami
Published: 10/27/2007

 

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