Help... we are itching and scratching!!!

[happyjo]

Hi Everyone..

Please bare with me as this is a detailed question.
Thanks also, in advance!!!

About 2-3 weeks ago my hubby and I noticed we had been bitten. (small red itchy lumps, not in any particular area,, legs..arms.. my ass!! etc) this has been on going now and we are getting on average a couple a day. They itch like mad, then die off, only to flare up in the shower or bath.

We have three daughters, only one of them has been bitten, and only twice.

We do not have pets, and we have a nice clean home.. ( I should hoover and dust more often ... but twice a week is all I can manage)

I wash my bedding weekly, actually every few days noe since we have been plagues with the biting things!!

The one thing it may be is... we have large basements, that are generally used for storage.. not living in. Recently I have been clearing out and found a few hidden gems that I like again.. ( cushion covers.. and a rug)

I am really at a loss as to what is causing this.. day and night we are being bitten.

Is it possible to have an infestation of fleas without animals??

HELP PLEASE!!!!

Jo x

[RATTER15]

This does sound like a flea infestation, are most of the bites below the knee, especially around the ankle?

You very often find with a flea infestation that only certain members of the family are being bitten, in fact you are all probably being bitten but only certain people are allergic to the bite.

It is possible to get a flea infestation without pets, especially if you have recently moved into the property, or if you have visited people with pets, allowed pets into your home etc!!

As a pest controller for 13 years, I treated homes on a daily bases for flea infestation, in all that time I think only about half a dozen of those homes were actually dirty, fleas don't like dirt!!!

Check you bed and pillows for blood spots, have you been on holiday recently or stayed in a hotel or had visitors stay in your bed especially foreign visitors.

I am away until late Tuesday night but will come back to check out your response and give some advice!!

[happyjo]

Thanks for the response.
The majority are below knee height yes!! However, some on my shoulder and one on my bum!!!

PLease ... help. How do I get rid of fleas???

[jules77]

Acclaim or Virbec household flea spray, on the bottom page of this link should sort it - you may need two cans, dependant on size of house or area you are treating
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/index.php?main_page=ind ex&cPath=3&zenid=9d4cb591a4424f21532e3f3ce2749 271

[lankeela]

You can buy 'flea bombs' which you leave in a room and they defumigate it.

Scroll down to 'flea bombs'

http://www.ultimateanimals.co.uk/acatalog/Flea _bomb_cat_flea_collars_spray_4fleas.html

[happyjo]

Thank you to all who have answered.
I will definately take action!!!

Mr Ratter... are you here to conclude thid advice???
Jo x

[lankeela]

There is another possibility, and that is that you have an infestation of cheyletiella mites . These can be in furniture or furnishings, and can affect some people and not others -some people can be affected as soon as they walk into a room while others are left alone. I should think the 'bomb' would get rid of them also. Will go and look them up for you.

Have you bought any secnd hand furniture at any time?

[Cmitchell]

Oooh how interesting! Yes highly annoying and a bit worrying for you but nonetheless very interesting. I'd have to agree, if they are mostly below the knee then it is likely to be fleas. You could pop down to a vetinery surgery and ask for Nuvan Staykill Carpet Spray (works on all upholstery). We used it many years ago when our dog entered house with fleas. Just found out the following info about this particular product.

Contains growth inhibitors to prevent flea eggs developing into fleas for 12 months when used at recommended application rates. It also has a short period of activity against adult fleas and their larvae. 500ml aerosol can.

Good luck hon!!!! C

[lankeela]

Here's a link, but it sounds as though there needs to have been animals around, so probably not them.

http://www.provet.co.uk/health/diseases/cheyle tiella.htm

[RATTER15]

I'm sorry but I'm not going to agree with everybody else!!

Yes it sounds like fleas, but I would not waste my money on over the counter flea treatments. One of the most difficult problems for Pest Controllers to treat effectively is fleas!!

I know all about the over the counter treatments and yes on occasions they will work, but you will certainly need about five or six times the amount stated on the container.

Once you treated the whole house and it has failed, which it probably will you will need to go and buy the same amount all over again, now it is costing you the same price as a guaranteed professional treatment, Pest Control Companies are treating fleas every day, they know how to apply the spray (not as straightforward as you may think) the treatment they use is safer for you and your kids, pets and the environment and it doesn't smell as much, if this treatment fails, it is down to them to come back and re-treat it free of charge!!

Good luck!!!

[happyjo]

Hi
Thanks to you all for your suggestions.

Ratter, how much would tis professional treatmet cost?

Money is tight at the moment, I am a full-time mature student, off for the summer. Hubby pays for everything!!

Is there ANY over the counter treatment that you would recommend.

Thanks for your help

Jo x

[happyjo]

Lankeela,

No, we have not got any second hand furniture.. I do have 2 new carpets, fitted in the last 6 months... moreover, I have been rooting through bags of stuff in our cellars looking for ebay gems...

We used to import soft furnishing from Bali, our business failed, but we do have some stock remaining, which has been sat idle in our cellars, Could these items be the cause???

Jo x

[markja]

jo, when we had fleas ,comliments of the cats,i put a night light on in the room overnight and a saucer of water underneath. the gentle heat of the light attracts fleas and they drown. doesn't get rid of them all but at least keeps them in check.

[markja]

by night light i mean the little ones that plug in your sockets at just above skirting board height.

[RATTER15]

3 years ago I would have charged �65.00 for a 3 bed house and �75 for a 4 bed house, I know its not cheap but neither is spending a fortune on over the counter treatments that offer no guarantee as you will still have to pay that when all the other treatments fail!!

I have seen hundreds of people in despair when they have spent �100s of pounds on these treatment and then I would guarantee my treatment for �65.00 and with less hassle, less smell, and less toxicity to humans.

[RATTER15]

Happy Jo, I would say it is very unlikely to be anything to do with anything you have brought in from the cellar, it would most likely be too cold for them to survive down there.

Just a note about the smoke bomb types of flea killers!! We used to use them professionally on occasions, if they worked well we would have used them all the time but they are not very effective by them selves and again, the ones you will be able to buy over the counter will be even less effective. A smoke bomb works by the flea breathing in toxic smoke, eggs don't breath!!! and smoke bombs leave no surface residue, so when the next batch of eggs hatch the next day, it starts all over again!!!!

[happyjo]

Hi Ratter.

I am going to enquire about pest controllers in my area.

I live in a 4 bed house, so with inflation I would hope I could bet a price around �85-�95??
I will let you know
Jo