Pulicosis is skin irritation caused by a bite of which creature?

Pulicosis is skin irritation caused by a bite of which creature?

• A. Skin irritation caused by tick bite
• B. Skin irritation caused by bedbug bite
• C. Skin irritation caused by a flea bite
• D. Skin irritation caused by mosquito bite

Answer: (C)

Pulicosis is dermatitis caused by flea bites. When fleas feed, they inject saliva that contains proteins and enzymes to prevent blood clotting. This saliva triggers an immune and inflammatory reaction in the skin, producing small, intensely itchy red papules that may appear in clusters, often on exposed skin like the ankles and legs after flea exposure. This differs from irritation from tick bites, bedbug bites, or mosquito bites, which arise from the bites of those specific insects and often show different patterns or lesion types. The term pulicosis specifically points to the skin reaction caused by fleas.

Pulicosis is dermatitis caused by flea bites. When fleas feed, they inject saliva that contains proteins and enzymes to prevent blood clotting. This saliva triggers an immune and inflammatory reaction in the skin, producing small, intensely itchy red papules that may appear in clusters, often on exposed skin like the ankles and legs after flea exposure.

This differs from irritation from tick bites, bedbug bites, or mosquito bites, which arise from the bites of those specific insects and often show different patterns or lesion types. The term pulicosis specifically points to the skin reaction caused by fleas.