Even Clean People Can Get Bugs

Scabies, Bedbugs, Fleas, Head Lice, Ringworm Have Nothing To Do With Cleanliness

Lax Hygiene Is Not The Cause Of An Infestation

By D.S. Mitchell

Fleas

I’ve always had a dog and sometimes a kitty. If you have pets you have likely dealt with fleas at some point or another, despite flea collars and systemic barriers. Flea eggs fall off our pets and onto our carpet. After a gestation period, larvae hatch from the eggs and develop into pupae, which emerge as adult fleas when stimulated by the scent of a warm blooded animal in close proximity-such as yourself, or your pet. Motivated by the scent of human blood the hungry fleas attack,  leaving small, itchy red bumps.

Cleanliness has nothing to do with the infestation you are experiencing. Fleas are attracted to warm bodies. These little critters over time have developed genetic adaptations to many of the insecticides we use to kill them.  Although flea bites, in themselves, are not harmful, people scratching the bites with dirty hands or fingernails can cause an infection.  OTC anti-itch cream can usually relieve the itch. Vets recommend spot on flea and tick treatments which usually prevent re-infestation. Vacuuming can help, but it is unrealistic to expect to snare every flea pupa with the vacuum.

Head Lice

When I was a young mother I was on constant alert for head lice which cause regular outbreaks in school. When your little tykes come home and hugs you and other family members you have an infected household.  Head lice are parasitic insects known for clinging to hair and feeding on human blood.  When infected, you will have an itchy scalp and neck. Examine your hair, close to the scalp, and if you are infected, you will see tiny tan or grayish bugs or tiny eggs sticking to the hair shaft, close to the scalp and the blood supply. Although itchy and uncomfortable, head lice are not known to be dangerous. Drugstores nationwide carry treatment kits. Some communities even have lice removal centers to take care of the problem.

Ringworm

First of all, ringworm is not a bug or insect, but instead a fungus. The fungus eats keratin, the dead outer layer of skin. Ringworm is highly infectious. It has nothing to do with cleanliness and can be contracted if you come into contact with infected people or pets. In locker rooms contamination often comes via washcloths or clothing. If you notice a red, scaly rash in the shape of rings that grows over time you probably have ringworm. An infected pet may display a circular rash or hair loss. If the infection is on smooth hairless skin an OTC anti-fungal cream should be all you need. However, if the outbreak is on a hairy area of skin, you should visit your doctor and get an oral medication, because the fungus can travel down hair follicles making the topical cream ineffective.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs infest beds and upholstered furniture and feed on humans as they sleep or rest. Suspect you have an infestation if you have a cluster or “line” of itchy red bumps like mosquito bites on most any part of the body. Suspect bedbugs if any family member has spent a night outside your home.  Bedbugs have been around since the beginning and they are oblivious to clean sheets and hygienic efforts. Bedbugs are hitchhikers and often ride on luggage and backpacks. The bites are irritating but usually an OTC antihistamine will relieve the discomfort. There are several products on the market for use by the homeowner to eradicate the infestation. If you don’t notice a quick drop in the bites you may need to call an exterminator.

Scabies

Scabies are tiny mites that burrow their way under the top layers of skin, laying eggs and excreting feces, sparking an inflammatory reaction in the skin. The “trails” they leave under your skin will be intensely irritated, red, and itchy. The itching may be especially irritating at night. Be particularly suspicious of an infestation if you have been on vacation or have recently come in contact with a new group of people. Scabies are passed through skin-to-skin contact and is in no way a sign of poor hygiene. You’ll probably be seeing your PCP and getting a prescription for a  topical cream. Everyone in the family should be treated. The cream needs to be applied two times, a week apart to be sure it kills mites when they hatch.