My son is being eaten by Fleas!!!! HELP?

Question

Every year around this time my son starts getting attacked by fleas. He gets these HORRIBLE bites everywhere. Especially on his lower legs. I looked it up online and I think he has an alergic reaction to the fleas,(nobody else in the house is being bit.) We have moved the animals outdoors, fogged several times, no dice.... I have heard that I can get him to take garlic tablets and that helps to prevent the bites. Anyone else have an experience like this? What can I do to keep him from being bit. It is just terrible. His is covered with bites. I took him to the doctor, and it is NOT chicken pox, it is flea bites for sure. He also itches them like crazy. Any really good anti itch products? Home remedies?

not scabies, we talk to a doc

Answer 1

Yes, I have had the same experience as your son in two different homes in two different states following infestation of a pet and it is awful. Some people taste better to fleas than others; it is a fact (I have been the only one bitten in a family of four living in the same house and I am a germophobe with impeccable hygiene--so to the person that implied that being poor is involved is full of crap and also quite rude).

Here is what I have learned:

1) Your animals are outside now and that is the first part...either get them flea free or put them outdoors.

2) You DO NOT need your carpet torn out and replaced.

3) To prevent him from further bites: Get Borateem from the laundry aisle (contains borax) shake a layer all over your floors and let it set for 24 hours, then get a stiff broom and work it into the carpet or in crevices...afterwards add a new layer and let it sit for another 24 hours, then vacuum it up. This will cure your environmental infestation).

4) To RELIEVE his itching....the best remedy is jewelweed. Not only is it natural and nontoxic, but it is also the most phenomenol itch reliever around (and I have tried many: rhuli gel, calamine, caladryl, benadryl, oatmeal, tea tree oil, lavender oil, etc.). Jewelweed grows wild in the Northeastern US and is in bloom now with orange flowers....just break off the stems, leaves, and flowers and rub the plant all over his skin (it has a similar consistency to aloe). If you do not have access to this plant, then try Burt's Bees Poison Ivy Soap....it is the only soap that contains jewelweed as far as I know.

Healing Blessings!!

Answer 2

I feel your son's pain. From experience; I can tell you that the following have worked for me. First; get rid of the carpeting in your house. I know this is expensive but money isn't an issue when it comes to your son's health. After you do that; have your pets flea bathed. There are products in the gardening section that you can spray in your yard to kill the fleas and their eggs. As for your son; grandma's remedy still works. Skin So Soft from Avon worked the best for me! You can put it on in the morning and don't have to worry about it being toxic. If you live near the beach; salt water will help relieve the itching. If you are not near the beach; you can buy saoking salt at any pharmacy. An oatmeal bath helps as well. To sleep at night; you can give him and antihistemine. He is allergic to fleas and the antihisthemine will help counteract the reaction. Avon has an awesome poduct out that will help him during the day at school. It is called Bug Guard. He can wear it all day long. If he has a problem with fleas, more than likely he will have a problem with mosquitos. This may be because of his blood type. Bug guard will help with those welts as well. Once you exterminate the house; I suggest you ask his physician for some help. My bites were so bad that he had to give me an injection. I don't remember what the name was but know that it contained steriods and antistemines. It helped me sleep for the first time in two weeks. Good luck, I hope this helps.

Answer 3

My son is the same way if there is 1 flea in the house it will find him! Then this last year I got a new neighbor with THEE BEST FLEA KILLER EVER!!!
SALT!
I know it sound weird but sprinkle salt all over your carpet (as if you were putting down carpet freshner) the salt sucks up the moister in the carpet (no it doesn't harm it) and the eggs can't develop, sending the fleas packing! Do not vaccum it up. At first it's going to feel like you are walking on sand but as you walk on it, it will go deeper into the carpet feeling less gritty. When you do, do your vaccuming just add more. When you are flea free, you'll use less and less salt. I had it down for a month (just to make sure) Now I use so little even when I first put it down you can't feel it on your feet. And I have an inside/outside dog and cat and I don't have ANY fleas!
Cleap, easy, non toxic, and works in a day or two.
GOOD LUCK

Answer 4

Ok...there are different stages of flea lifecycles....egg, larvae, and adult...you need to get something that kills ALL stages....plus if your pets come it, they will bring them in from outside. It will cost a little but if you're desperate, this will help.

Take your pets to a vet/groomer to be bathed AND dipped if you take them to the vet have them use this: MYCODEX with CARBARYL this is the BEST shampoo out there and you can only get it at a vet. Also, have them use FRONTLINE on them, it guarentees that in 6 weeks you won't see fleas. It doesn't stop the flea from jumping on them, but once it bites the animal, it dies, and since fleas feed off of blood, they'll bite the animal.

While you're pets are gone....get a fogger that will kill all stages of the flea cycle...if you can't find one, you will need to repeat the fog...there is some carpet fresh like stuff that you can get at walmart, lowes, or a petstore...it is on the cat aisle at walmart, and the pesticide aisle at lowes, you sprinkle it on your carpets, let it sit for 30 minutes and vacuum it up....it even smells good so you can use it everytime you vacuum.

Also, while your pets are gone, spray your yard and about 2 feet over into the neighbors yard. It's easier to use a liquid instead of a granular because the liquid will soak into the ground and the granular you have to either wait for it to rain or use the sprinkler to activate it.....i chose the easier way. This needs to be done while the animals are gone because it is toxic if they are on it. Wait until it's dry before letting animals or kids on the grass.

Have your son take a childrens allergy pill or liquid, something with an antihistamine in it...this will ease the itch. You can also use calamine lotion to dry it out. When he goes outside, use OFF or something like that...that will also keep the mosquitos away.

This should start to ease your problem with fleas, so let me know if you have any luck.

Answer 5

Oh fleas are terrible! Have you tried have someone come in and spray your house , maybe that would work better than the fogger stuff, also try using seven dust (i'm pretty sure thats what its called) around the outside of your house this will help to cut down on the fleas, and other bugs also. Fleas can get into the carpet and furniture and they are hard to get rid of, we have to dogs so i know how it can be, you have to get them before they take over your house! Good luck.

Answer 6

Fleas live in carpets too. Probably they are jumping to your child when you put flea collars on the pets. Benadryl spray meant for poison ivy might work for itching flea bites. Are you dumping the vacuum bags into the trash each time you vacuum? It sounds like eggs are just hatching out.

Answer 7

could be scabies too- pretty much fleas for humans. however just because your son is the only one so far being bitten doesn't mean it can't spread to others. you'll need to literally start all over with household items... and burn those you're replacing. comforters, blankets, towels, rugs, carpet, upholster furnishings... see a doc for your son- he can get you prescribed shampoo, and poweders to use... the whole family will need to take precautions. and yes, you may need to either get a strong medicine for your animals like k-9 advantix, advantage or frontline and/or plan on keeping them outdoors during this "cleansing" process.

Answer 8

Get a dog and put some Advantage on the dog. Problem solved by tomorrow. And if your son goes to a friends' houses where they have animals, make sure they get treated as well, and stay out of feral cat areas.

Answer 9

This is a very normal experience. Children like to be animals as well as inanimate objects, its part of a very important imagination building exercise. You are very correct in leaving the child outside, and yes it can take several months. A child is not well suited towards an outside life and this will help the healing process. The longer he/she it outside the sooner they will realize they are not a dog and come to terms with it. Good luck!

Answer 10

Sunshine... If you truly love your son get rid of the problem... the pets. It won't matter if you move them outside. The fleas will slill do damage. They live in the house and he's fair game but their camp is the pets.