Flea Bites Vs. Bedbug Bites: Which Is It? - Healthline
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What’s the Difference Between Flea Bites and Bedbug Bites?
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Natalie Silver — Updated on December 17, 2024- Key differences
- Symptom differences
- Differences in risks
- Treatment differences
- Takeaway
Both flea and bedbug bites may be a group of small dots on your skin, though bedbug bites tend to be more linear, whereas flea bites tend to be more scattered.
If you notice a group of small dots on your skin, they could be either bedbug bites or flea bites. It can be difficult to tell the difference between them. Flea bites are usually found on the lower half of your body or in warm, moist areas like the bends of elbows and knees.
Bedbug bites are often on the upper half of your body, around the face, neck, and arms.
Keep reading to learn about the symptoms, risk factors, and treatments of each type of bite.
How do you know if you have a flea bite or bedbug bite?
Both bedbugs and fleas are tiny, blood-sucking insects. Neither kind can’t fly, but fleas can jump. As soon as they latch on to a host, they begin biting.
It can be hard to tell which type of insect is responsible for your bite, but here are some key differences between the two. A more detailed explanation of the differences follows below.
| Bedbug bites | Flea bites | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | about 5-7 mm (0.1-0.2 inches) | About 1.5-3.3 mm (0.05-0.12 inches) |
| Pattern | small, red, and linear or clustered | small, red, and scattered |
| Bite location | usually upper body, neck, arms, and shoulders | usually lower body like ankles and legs |
| Behavior | mostly bite at night | can bite any time |
| spread | often through travel from bedding or furniture | often through pets |
What are the symptoms of flea bites vs bedbug bites?
Common symptoms of flea bites include small red marks on your skin and intense itching. The bites are sometimes grouped together in threes.
Flea bites generally occur on or near the:
- feet and lower legs
- waist
- ankles
- armpits
- elbows and knees (in the bend)
- other skin folds
On the other hand, bedbugs tend to bite on the upper half of the body, including the:
- face
- neck
- arms
- hands
Bedbug bites are small and have a dark red spot in the middle of a raised area of the skin. They may appear in a cluster or in a line, and they often get worse if you scratch them.
What are the risks of bedbug bites vs flea bites?
If you’re allergic to fleas, you may develop hives or a rash. The affected area may also swell and blister. If a blister appears and breaks, it may lead to an infection. If you scratch the affected area and break open the skin, you may also get a secondary infection from the bites.
Fleas can also infest your skin. For example, burrowing sand fleas can cause an infestation called tungiasis. It almost always occurs around the feet and toes. This tropical or subtropical flea can dig under your skin to feed. The flea will die after two weeks, but it often causes a complicated skin infection afterward.
In addition, in rare cases, fleas can transmit diseases such as plague (Yersinia pestis) and typhus or parasites like tapeworms.
Bed bug bites can also cause an allergic reaction. The affected area may swell or become irritated, resulting in a blister. You may even develop hives or a more severe rash.
That said, there isn’t much evidence that bed bugs can transmit disease in the same way as fleas.
How are bedbug bites treated vs flea bites?
First-line treatment for flea bites includes washing the bites with soap and water and, if needed, applying a topical anti-itch cream. A lukewarm bath with oatmeal can also relieve itchiness. You should avoid showering or bathing with hot water, which can make itching more severe.
If you suspect that you’re allergic, take an antihistamine to reduce your chances of an allergic reaction.
See your doctor if you suspect you may have an infection or if the bites don’t clear up after a few weeks. If your bites become infected, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics or other medication.
You can reduce the chances of fleas in your home by:
- keeping your floors and furniture clean by vacuuming
- cleaning your carpet with steam
- mowing your lawn if your pets spend time outdoors
- using a pest control service
- washing your pet with soap and water
- examining your pets for fleas
- putting a flea collar on your pet or treating your pet with a monthly medication
On the other hand, bedbug bites usually go away after a week or two, though you should contact your doctor if:
- the bites don’t go away after a few weeks
- you develop a secondary infection from scratching the bites
- you experience signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives
You can use a topical steroid to treat bedbug bites on the skin. If you have an allergic reaction, it may be necessary to take oral antihistamines or steroids. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic in the case of an infection.
»MORE:Get care for insect bites and stings in as little as 15 minutes with Optum Now Online Care.Optum Now is operated by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.
Takeaway
It can be hard to differentiate between bedbug bites and flea bites. Typically, flea bites are located on the lower half of the body or in warm and damp areas like the creases of elbows and knees. On the other hand, bedbug bites are often found on the upper half of the body, such as around the face, neck, and arms.
While both types of bites may appear in a group of small dots on the skin, bedbug bites tend to form a straight line, while flea bites may appear more scattered. If you have flea bites or bedbug bites, monitor your bites for signs of infection or allergic reaction and use a topical anti-itch cream to relieve inflammation and irritation.
Call your doctor if your symptoms continue or get worse after a few weeks and take steps to remove the fleas or bedbugs from your living space.
Learn more: Flea infestations and How to get rid of bedbugs.
How we reviewed this article:
SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.- About fleas. (2024).https://www.cdc.gov/fleas/about/index.html
- Anderson J, et al. (2024). Flea bites.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541118/
- Bed bugs: A public health issue. (2024).https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/bed-bugs-public-health-issue
- Bed bugs vs. fleas: a homeowner’s guide to identifying and combating pesky invaders. (n.d.).https://staysafe.org/pest-control/bed-bugs-vs-fleas/
- Ennis AC, et al. (2023). Bedbug bites.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538128/
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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Natalie Silver — Updated on December 17, 2024related stories
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