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Fleas - Treatment

Alternative Names

Dog fleas; Siphonaptera

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to get rid of the fleas by treating the home, pets, and outside areas with insecticide. Small children should not be in the home when insecticides are being used. Birds and fish must be protected during spraying. Home foggers and flea collars do not always work. If home treatments do not work, professional extermination may be needed.

If flea bites occur, an over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream can help relieve itching.

Expectations (prognosis):

Getting rid of fleas can be difficult and takes persistence.

Complications:

Scratching can lead to a secondary skin infection.

  • Reviewed last on: 10/17/2006
  • Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.