Sand Flea Bite Treatment

Sand fleas are blood sucking parasites that are mostly found in beaches and near other water bodies like lakes and streams. Mostly found in tropical regions, these fleas are also known by many other names like Sarcopsylla penetrans, Pulex penetrans, jigger, pico, chigoe flea and pigue. They are very small in size (around one millimeter) and have shrimp-like body. These wingless arachnids have specialized mouth parts that help them in sucking blood. Sand fleas feed on rotting plant matter, especially, sea weeds that are washed ashore. Being parasitic, they feed on the blood of mammals, including humans. These fleas are known for their horrible bites that can be inflicted on humans.

Sand Flea Bites

As mentioned above, sand fleas are often found in beaches located in some of the tropical regions, across the globe. Even areas near other water bodies may have sand flea infestations. These fleas are mainly found in some parts of West Indies and South and Central America. They are small-sized with waxy body and their body color can be anywhere between pale white to brownish hues. They are found to have seven body segments with long legs that are used for swimming as well as jumping. Being bad jumpers, they cannot reach more than a height of 20 to 40 centimeters in a single jump.

So, the most flea bite prone locations for sand flea bites are the feet, ankles and legs. Sand flea bites are commonly found to happen during evening, night and dawn, when these fleas are active. Sand fleas inject their saliva into the host, so as to hinder clotting of blood, while they feed on it. It is due to the saliva that sand fleas symptoms develop in the host. Sand flea bite treatment is based on the type of bite.

Sand flea bites can be classified into two types. One is like mosquito bites, where the flea bites the person, sucks blood and moves on to the next host. Another type is the bites caused by breeding females. These females burrow into the human skin and stay there for around three weeks, till they lay eggs. Meanwhile the site will get swollen and gradually form a mount with a black spot in the center. In both cases, sand fleas symptoms include, pain, itching and severe discomfort may be caused. If the person is allergic to insect bites, severe allergic reactions may also be expected.

However, if the flea has burrowed into the skin, the affected person may sometimes develop fever and secondary infections too. Sand flea bites are said to be horrible in nature, as it can cause immense discomfort. The symptoms may vary from one person to another, with the location of bite and with the type of bite. While, symptoms caused by normal sand flea bites may subside without any treatment, this flea burrowing and settling on the skin may cause a condition called tungiasis that may give rise to complications. So, sand flea bite treatment is unavoidable in such cases.

How to Treat Sand Flea Bites

As mentioned above, sand flea bite symptoms may vary with the type of bite. In normal bites, the victim will suffer from pain, itching and discomfort in the location of bite. These symptoms may subside without any treatment. However, application of calamine lotion, 1% hydrocortisone cream and aloe vera gel are said to provide relief from the sand fleas symptoms. Even antihistamines can be used, as per the advice of your doctor. If the flea has burrowed into the skin, then, scratching of the area must be completely avoided. You should not try to remove the flea that has settled inside the skin.

Even though, complications are very rare, it is always better to seek medical attention to remove sand fleas on humans as well as pets. In such cases, sand flea bite treatment includes application of anti parasitic drugs and petrolatum. The doctor may remove the flea with forceps or through cryotherapy. Sometimes, the flea has to be removed through a minor surgery. While, anti parasitic drugs can kill the flea inside the skin, petrolatum is applied over the area, so as to suffocate and kill the flea. In case of cryotherapy, the nodule formed by the flea is frozen with liquid nitrogen. Removal of flea from the nodule is normally done with forceps, but, in some rare cases, it has to be removed with a curette through a minor surgery. Once the embedded flea is removed, the wound may be treated with antibiotics, so that secondary infections can be prevented. Even tetanus injections may be administered to the patient at this time.

In short, sand flea bite treatment may not be required in case of regular bites, but, you have to seek medical attention, if you develop nodules, blisters and swelling. Sand flea bites can be prevented by wearing shoes and fully covered clothes, during your visits to beaches and other areas with water bodies, particularly in tropical regions, where sand fleas are commonly found.