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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Just found a flea on my arm!!!

39 replies

CupcakesForBreakfast · 23/07/2017 21:33

Just sat in bed and felt a little tickle on my arm, went to grab it and it jumped like I've never seen something jump before! Caught it again and tried to squash it and it wouldn't die just managed to grab it in a piece of tissue and it was defo a flea
We have no pets and my house is clean and tidy. Wtf? Do I have to go round looking for where it came from or could it have just come in on my clothes?

OP posts:

FelixtheMouse · 23/07/2017 21:38

In hot weather they can come from most any animal that's been within 2 metres of you. You probably won't have to fumigate your house.

LondonLassInTheCountry · 23/07/2017 21:43

Could you have them in your hair....

They are very easy to catch

Original poster

CupcakesForBreakfast · 23/07/2017 21:43

Not been anywhere near any animals though that's the thing. No one in the family has pets. Just read that fleas carry the bubonic plague and have completely freaked myself out. I'm all itchy!

OP posts:

fruityb · 23/07/2017 21:43

Fleas can still live in clean and tidy spaces as well as dirty and untidy ones. It's the weather.

Indorex is your friend if you're worried.

Original poster

CupcakesForBreakfast · 23/07/2017 21:45

My hairs not itchy and I'm not sure where I'd have caught them? I sincerely hope not

OP posts:

andbabymakesthree · 23/07/2017 21:46

Get the indorex out!

Original poster

CupcakesForBreakfast · 23/07/2017 21:49

What's indorex?

OP posts:

gamerchick · 23/07/2017 21:51

You or someone could have brought it in. I had one sitting on me coming home on the bus once. Cheeky git. We get them at work from customers and have to get the flea dude in to spray the place.

It happens, don't stress about it. Might want to spray some shit around though.

Sheepasaurus · 23/07/2017 21:51

You can't squash them. We drown them and let them go down the plug hole.

Ilovecoleslaw · 23/07/2017 21:52

Could have jumped on you from anywhere.
I wouldn't be too worried unless you see another one

MikeUniformMike · 23/07/2017 21:55

Use a sticky bar of soap and press it onto the flea. The flea sticks to the soap. Other things you could use are glue stick, lipsalve or masking tape.
They jump on me in the garden.

Rememberallball · 23/07/2017 21:58

You can't squash them. We drown them and let them go down the plug hole.

Yes you can squash them, but you need to get them between 2 flat surfaces (I use 2 fingernails!!)

CrazyGreyhoundLady · 23/07/2017 22:05

Buy some Indorex spray, better safe than sorry and it isn't costly. Drowning doesn't work on fleas they can stay alive a scarily long time in water, I think it takes around 24 hours for them to drown if fully submerged?

FlandersRocks · 23/07/2017 22:09

You can't squash them

No, you need to roll then. Pick it up between your thumb and index finger and just rub your fingers together vigorously in a rolling motion - kills them within 2 seconds.

Original poster

CupcakesForBreakfast · 23/07/2017 22:11

Can indorex be sprayed on a mattress?

OP posts:

user1468353179 · 23/07/2017 22:12

I found one on me in the car. I threw it out of the window.

Flopjustwantscoffee · 23/07/2017 22:12

Re bubonic plague: yes they can carry it, but only if you are somewhere that bubonic plague is. If you don't live in the Congo you are probably OK...

user1497480444 · 23/07/2017 22:14

It could have been from a rat, but you won't get bubonic plague in the UK ( wrong type of rat)

I've lived in plague areas. The main things to look out for are fleas NOT leaving raised bites, as the bacteria prevents efficient biting.

So NOT having flea bites is more of a danger sign than having flea bites!

swelling glands in arm pits, etc.

Needs antibiotics, but is 100% curable, so not something to stress over, even if you are in a plague area.

SleepFreeZone · 23/07/2017 22:16

You pop them by using a nail against a hard surface. Then drown them 🙅

PosiePootlePerkins · 23/07/2017 22:17

Or drown in a dish of soapy water, they can't climb out fuckers

DigitalGhost · 23/07/2017 22:19

It says not to spray it on mattresses but aslong as you air the room out and spray it in the morning so it has a whole day to air then it's fine.
Spray all around the bed too and under. I wouldn't be overly concerned if you've only seen one though.

MarilynWhirlwindRocks · 23/07/2017 22:23

OP,

Might just be an adult Froghopper (which can jump even higher than fleas...aaargh!), easily brought indoors on clothes/ hair etc.

There are brown varieties: they're the adults of those tiny green things that grow in weird white bubbly froth on bushes ("cuckoo spit", I think it's known as?).

Have you got lavender growing nearby? I was told that's an especially common place for them to lurk.
Pretty sure Froghoppers don't bite or sting, though may be wrong.
God, I feel all itchy now!
Indorex costs £18 a can, btw, at my daylight robber vet.

DigitalGhost · 23/07/2017 22:39

Indorex is a tenner on Amazon. Bought two cans this weekend as I'm paranoid having two cats about.

DigitalGhost · 23/07/2017 22:39

Indorex is a tenner on Amazon. Bought two cans this weekend as I'm paranoid having two cats about.

SabineUndine · 23/07/2017 22:44

There are fleas that live on humans too. I caught one once and before I realised had infected six people. Get flea powder.

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