Be careful: it's a small bug, but its bite is painful and dangerous

These tiny insects are called jiggers, chigoe, or sand fleas. They most often bite people on their feet or ankles, leaving behind itchy, red marks.

The Mirror writes that this insect is so small that it is impossible to see it, but the bite of a sand flea is tangible. However, doctors warn that it is not the bite that you should be afraid of, but the consequences.

Where do jiggers live?

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, sand fleas live in Central and South America, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. They have also been reported in Mexico and the Caribbean.

What do sand flea bites look like?

Jigger bites look like clusters of red dots on the skin. Unfortunately, due to their tiny size, you will most likely not immediately realize that you have been bitten. And this is the main problem.

After biting a person, female fleas usually burrow under the skin in the area of the ankle or foot. According to Professor Nancy Hinkle of the University of Georgia's Department of Entomology, this is when males meet them to reproduce. After mating, the female throws her eggs on the ground, and in two weeks she dies and falls out of her leg.

Important! Burrowing under the skin, the flea forms a noticeable white disk with a black dot in the center. After a while, the affected area turns black, and pain, swelling, inflammation, and itching appear.

However, Dr. Hinkle says that's not all. The hole in the skin caused by the female jigger's penetration can lead to a bacterial infection that can lead to tetanus or gangrene.

Therefore, if you are attacked by sand fleas, you should remove them as soon as possible using a sterile method and apply a bandage. Then get a tetanus shot if you don't have one and treat the bite site.

How to protect yourself from jiggers?

The only way to protect your feet from sand fleas is to use insect repellent.