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siphonaptera (flea)
Wingless insects 2-4 mm long that feed on the blood of humans & other warm-blooded animals. Common human-biting fleas include Ctenocephalides canis & felis (dog & cat fleas), Xenopsylla cheopis (rat flea) & Pulex irritans (human flea).
Epidemiology:
1) larvae feed on pellets of dried host blood that adults eject from their rectum while feeding
2) adults jump onto humans when the usual host abandons its nest
Clinical manifestations:
1) sensitized individuals develop erythematous, pruritic plaques, urticaria & occasionally vesicles
2) bacterial superinfection at a bite site may occur
Management:
1) antihistamines
2) antipruritics
3) flea control
a) cleaning of nesting sites
b) insecticides: pyrethin, DDT, malathion
Specific
ceratophyllidae
leptopsyllidae
pulididae
tunga
General
insect
Properties
KINGDOM: animal
PHYLUM: arthropod
ORGANISM-CLASS: INSECTA
ORDER: siphonaptera
References
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed.
Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 936