Suggest Treatment For Flea Infestation In Scalp And Body

Posted on Fri, 7 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 7 Mar 2014 Answered on

Mon, 28 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : what is the treatment for flea infestation of a person's scalp and body?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: Home treatment described. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health concern. Spray your hairs and body thoroughly with the baking soda-water mixture. Avoid your eyes. Rub the baking soda into your hair and skin and apply the shower cap. Wait 15 minutes for the baking soda to work on the adult fleas and their eggs. Rinse the baking soda out of your hair and body with plenty of warm, running water. Comb from your roots to your ends with the fine-toothed comb and rinse again. You will extract all dead bodies and any eggs that may be clinging to the hair shafts. Then apply XXXXXXX cider vinegar to your hair to soak. Put on the shower cap and again wait 15 minutes. Before rinsing, comb the vinegar through your hair. This step changes the acidity of your hair and scalp, making it difficult for fleas to live in the new environment. You can do all these steps every other day three times to get rid of all of the fleas you have. Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Rakhi Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (3 hours later)

the fleas have already gotten into my circulatory system. I have been prescribed a drug, Permethrin. Will it take care of the problem. If not what should I do?the fleas have already gotten into my circulatory system. I have been prescribed the drug Premethrin to use topically. Will this treatment be affective? I have not used it yet.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (4 hours later)

Brief Answer: Yes. Detailed Answer: Hello. Thanks for writing again. Permethrin will help in reducing the infestation. You will have to take adequate measures to avoid re infection. Hope my answer is helpful. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (16 days later)

the fleas are hatched from my blood to the skin's surface. I have tapeworm & had treatment; but it continues to come back. The eggs hatched from eggs on scalp. I can pick them off but not all of them. Not eradicated as they continue to reappear on my skin. They continue to hatch from blood. Can you help? I've seen two docs but they don't have answer. I have obvious signs of tapeworm - wrinkled skin and lines. Some small and some larger swellings on head; they feel hard to the touch. Two different docs I've seen don't have answer; I've had two rounds of Albenza, but still have eggs and fleas coming through from blood to skin's surface. Can you help? What about the ones in blood that continue to appear almost daily. There are still lumps on my scalp. My palms are very dark pink or red and I have sores on my body that I can pick the scab and there will be a flea. I am getting super concerned as nothing seems to have worked well. I had a punch biopsy by dermatologist and it was negative but he did it before this infestation got so bad. I'm getting really worried. The are also in my ear. I'm finding them daily. Docs seem to have run out of answers. Hope you have an answer. I have tapeworm again! I still have the same problem. I get new sores every day and I check the scabs, and there is a flea. What about the fleas in blood hatching onto skin's surface. I now also have white rice looking things in the anal and vaginal area & a little bleeding there. I'm worried about them in my blood; it's getting scary as nothing has yet been successful.What should I do now

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer: praziquantel or niclosamide Detailed Answer: You need to be treated with praziquantel or niclosamide since albendazole has not helped you. You can also get a repeat biopsy done from your dermatologist. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (4 days later)

All of the above are still true, only they are worse. There are actually little fleas coming out in a few places on my skin, back and other places. Dr. in ER last week didn't even examine me. She just made the point She was an ER physician and refused to take the fecal sample bottle that the doc the night before told me to bring back the next day. I think she prefers wrecks and the other more exciting things that come into an ER. My situation is definitely deteriorating. I'm going to see what my family practice doc says tomorrow, but he's rather slow to act. I'm getting quite concerned. Any suggestions???

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Physician is likely to help you. Detailed Answer: You can request him to have a skin biopsy and detailed investigations. He can refer you to a dermatologist or an infectious disease specialist also. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (0 minute later)

What do I need to do now; please see question I asked 0 minutes ago. What can I do now? Do I need to go back to an ER? Things are definitely worse.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Going to ER will not help. Detailed Answer: Going back to ER will not help you. It is best to wait till tomorrow for your scheduled appointment. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (3 minutes later)

Would going to the ER help speed things up-a different ER?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (39 hours later)

Brief Answer: Different ER is not likely to help. Detailed Answer: At ER you will be given a short term treatment for symptomatic relief only. You need a planned treatment after proper investigations. Going to a different ER will not help you either. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar