I had to take some kind of action, and fast. Finding pesticide residues on a food preparation surface or on a cat’s water bowl “would hang an applicator,” one state investigator told me. I wanted to know more about this pesticide. The longer the exposure and the larger the dose, the more toxic the effects. While my husband did the mopping, I wrote an instant message to a friend: “This is a disaster,” I typed. I always feel sick a few days after applying a flea treatment to my dog and cat, and it doesnt really make a difference which brand. Lupus: negative. It is important to practice safety before, during and after the use of both Raid roach and flea spray. Routinely check your pet for fleas and/or ticks and remove them immediately. Other signs and symptoms of toxicity include abnormal facial sensation, dizzi - ness, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea and irritability to sound and touch. Wash fabrics and bedding in hot water and high heat dryer setting. The label instructs users to cover all food-processing surfaces, utensils and exposed food prior to spraying. It can also be caused by abnormal immune system reactions, and it’s sometimes a complication of syphilis, measles or Lyme disease. My doctor listened to the story of the chemical flea treatment and the coincidental timing of the onset of symptoms, and then rushed out of the room to … Keep the grass mowed, bushes cut short, and remove all leaf litter. Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety. Pesticide manufacturers, in performing mandatory safety studies before their products are allowed on the market, should be required to test the combined effects of multiple pesticides and the effects of their pesticides combined with chemicals that people are exposed to each day, such as plastics and drugs. Only one covid-19 treatment is designed to keep people out of the hospital. When faced with a potential toxicity situation, it is important to remember that there is help available. I returned to working on the book I had just started to write and the new career I had launched. This article was excerpted from the May issue of Health Affairs and can be read in full online at www.healthaffairs.org. It also says that the sprayed area should be ventilated after treatment. As I had expected — after weeks of follow-up neurological studies, blood tests and second opinions — the possible MS diagnosis was thrown out. Side Effect for Humans Fipronil is a suspected human carcinogen and endocrine disruptor. Transverse myelitis can be the result of a viral infection such as chickenpox, shingles, herpes, flu, HIV, hepatitis A or rubella. Home Insects Flea Bites on Humans: Symptoms and Treatment. Slightly depending on how your body react to the bites (and how well you refrain from scratching the wounds), the reddish look last anywhere from a few hours up to several days. Apply only the recommended dose; more can be harmful to you and your pet. I decided to trust “the system” — which, I reasoned, was created to protect consumers, after all. Not obeying the label instructions is a violation of federal and state law, and in Virginia, the company could be fined up to $5,000 for this violation, a penalty that could motivate it to train its technicians better and provide homeowners with more information. The best way to control fleas and ticks is to keep them from contacting your pet or entering your home or areas surrounding your home in the first place. They will give you further instructions. Use the correct product. Any location out of direct sunlight where the pet spends time can become flea infested and a source for re-infection. Pregnant women agonize over whether to get coronavirus vaccine, Coronavirus updates: Third state identifies more transmissible variant as U.S. cases surpass 20 million, How the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation ended up in Congress’s $900 billion relief bill. Some products are for pets, while others are to be used strictly on carpets and furniture. I struggled to brush my teeth, write, type and lift a fork. In more severe cases, pulmonary edema, muscle fasiculations, seizures and coma can develop. Meningitis: negative. Poisoning from powders and sprays used to treat a flea infestation is more common than poisoning from collars. Congress and other policymakers should reform the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1947 and the EPA regulations that implement it. Fleabites have several common symptoms. What Went Wrong: Total release foggers, also called "bug bombs", can pose health and fire hazards if used improperly. It can also be toxic to the nervous system, particularly if ingested. A pruritic rash developed on her hands and arms approximately 2 hours after exposure. The pest control company said that an experienced technician had done the work. Follow the tips on this page for indoor and outdoor flea and tick control as a way to avoid an infestation. My icy-hot sensation began to fade, and my strength began to return, although a full recovery took several months. If you've discovered flea bites or have found fleas in your hair, consider the following advice, directly from the World Health Organization: Of course, there's a much simpler way to deal with any kind of flea problem. Would you like to try a study question? I made this decision even though I’d been a “ban lawn-care pesticides from our campus” activist in college and had spent nearly my entire professional life as a communications consultant to the Environmental Protection Agency, writing materials for the public about environmentally sound behavior. If you have ever had an experience with fleas, you can testify that they are tiny and irritating insects. Eisenfeld is a writer and editor in the Washington area. This scar or defect, I was told, had chewed away some of the protective myelin that coats nerves and transmits messages in the nervous system. They bite and their bites are itchy and sometimes painful. My decision to use a chemical pesticide in my home was a moment of weakness, a test of blind faith in a system that was supposed to protect me from harm. But the law never defines “unreasonable.” It says only that to determine “unreason­able risk,” EPA must take into ac­count “the economic, social, and envi­ronmental costs and benefits.”. So here’s what I learned: Consumers must receive more information about the pesticides being used in their homes. This idea would be a new way of thinking, but it is time for the outdated regulatory approach to pesticides to move into the future. A cat has a very different metabolism to that of a dog and, because of this, they can become very sensitive to some treatments. A few weeks later, I got my response: an 82-page report from the EPA that made it clear to me that MS wasn’t the cause of my symptoms. The report showed that from 1992 until early 2010, 156 “minor” human incidents had been reported to the agency concerning the product used in our house, as well as 24 “moderate” and 515 “major” human incidents. I canceled our quarterly outdoor pesticide treatment against ants. https://healthfully.com/dangers-exposure-bug-foggers-8082634.html If you have pets, there's a good chance at some point you may have to deal with an annoying infestation of fleas and ticks. And they need regulatory backup protection. What Went Wrong: They did not read the labels before using the spray or powder. Cats are more vulnerable than dogs to poisoning from flea and tick treatments. “What about pesticide exposure?” I asked. Also use a soothing ointment or scar crea… Reducing Poisonings from Flea & Tick Control Treatments, Health & Safety in the Home, Workplace & Outdoors, Clinical Guidelines, Standards & Quality of Care, All Health Care Professionals & Patient Safety, Tick and Insect Repellents: Deciding on their Use, Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers, Addressing the Opioid Epidemic in New York State, Learn About the Dangers of "Synthetic Marijuana", Help Increasing the Text Size in Your Web Browser. My recovery involved physical therapy, occupational therapy, exercise and rest. You will also learn how to treat and prevent the bites to avoid this problem in the future. Although incident reports made to the manufacturer may be considered proprietary, the manufacturer must give them to the EPA, which also collects incident reports from the public and from other government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. The label directs pesticide applicators to avoid thoroughly wetting the surfaces being sprayed. Do not use dog treatments on cats, or cat treatments on dogs. Treatment of Flea and Tick Collar Poisoning in Dogs Flea collar poisoning is treated with support therapy and medication. Six hours later, my husband and I returned home and found big wet drops all over the floors. If the cat is showing symptoms such as tremoring or seizing, the cat should be immediately transferred to a veterinary facility for treatment. When we called the pest control company, the manager was perplexed. Manufacturers should also be required to tell the EPA and consumers what the “inert” or “other” ingredients are that can make up 95 percent of a pesticide product: Some of these substan-ces can be even more toxic than the active ingredients. If you have a pet that spends time outdoors, it is important to make the environment unwelcoming for pests. A dog's reaction to pyrethrins or pyrethroids can range from mild to moderate allergies or hives to nausea, respiratory distress and tremors to vomiting and shock. Standing up in the shower and lathering my hair became things I could no longer do at once. It is important to schedule a follow-up appointment so your veterinarian can make sure your cat has recovered from the poisoning and treatment. This is why flea treatment is applied using a pipette on the nape of the neck. But four tests involving the cerebrospinal fluid that are often used as indicators of multiple sclerosis came up positive — stunningly unpleasant news that made my mind swirl. The two types of products should not be used interchangeably. One serious, but alarmingly common problem, is when symptoms of flea treatment poisoning occur in cats after they have been treated with a product which is specifically designed for dogs. Consider wearing gloves when applying. I then contacted the pest control company and the manufacturer to report the incident. “It’s concerning, however,” my doctor said. The pesticide — in the form of a mist designed to fall quickly to the floor — contained chemicals to kill insects and interrupt the life cycle of fleas. Two kinds of flea treatments. It can be caused by large or small doses. A day later, my right side lost much of its strength. Thankfully, I am completely recovered. Outdoor examples of "hot spots" for fleas are dog houses, flower beds, gardens, and under decks or porches. This hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. Groom your pet with a flea comb. You can do this by removing elements that they need to survive. By evening, my arms were buzzing with an odd, electric energy. As an environmentalist, I am an organic vegetarian. You may experience hives or develop a rash near the site of a … “We can’t know for sure about multiple sclerosis,” my neurologist explained, “until you get a follow-up MRI in four to five months, to see whether the lesion is still there or if there are any new ones.” A definitive diagnosis, he explained, requires either two “episodes” like the one I had experienced, or two or more lesions on the spinal cord. Many overburdened hospitals are not offering it. The directions provided with the product said to leave the area after the fogger was activated, stay out during treatment time, and ventilate when returning. Flea treatment poisoning (overdose or administration of a dog flea product): If possible, apply a small amount of dishwashing detergent such as Dawn or Fairy Liquid (the type you use to wash dishes in the sink) directly to the back of the neck where the product is, apply warm water, lather and rinse the detergent off. While it's important to keep these pests off of your animal, care should be taken when dealing with treatments containing potentially harmful pesticides. I bought essential-oil bug spray for summertime mosquitoes. A man set off a flea fogger in his apartment. I have flu-like symptoms – headache, low fever, body aches and extremely worn out. Not wanting to waste time on home remedies that might not work, I thought, “Let’s just get it over with.”. These combs are made to remove adult fleas, flea dirt, and dried blood from your pet's skin and fur. The next day, my left arm and leg felt icy hot. Fleas are easier to prevent than to get rid of once an infestation has taken hold. A second FOIA request about three of the active ingredients in “my” pesticide revealed that thousands of medical complaints had been filed about these chemicals when they were used in other pesticide products. Many of these products contain strong chemicals that can potentially be harmful. Despite applications of topical anti-flea drops, he’d been licking himself raw during the past four months. Clear trees and brush to add more sunlight into the yard and reduce the amount of suitable habitat for deer which carry ticks. Without additional protections, unwary consumers will continue to turn to chemical products they assume are safe. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. What Went Wrong: The area had been recently treated. Among the complaints in the moderate and major medical incidents were dizziness, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, tremors, abdominal pain, disorientation, stumbling, coma, seizure, liver failure, lethargy, numbness, blurred vision, chills, blood in the urine, memory loss, migraines, inability to walk and heart attack. The treatment seemed reasonable: An aerosol flea spray would be applied directly to the floor; it wasn’t some kind of flea bomb or fogger. This … This is presumably due to their smaller size relative to dogs, their grooming habits (frequent licking of fur), and their absence of enzymes needed to detoxify certain organophosphates, according to NRDC. And a source for re-infection said my symptoms could also be toxic to nervous.: gratitude, a neurologist diagnosed the problem as transverse myelitis, an of! Threat to our cat 's health via poisoning or toxic shock bites to this!, against fleas, flea dirt, and under decks or porches where your pet its! Medication as directed nausea and an aching head quadrant of my decision, I looked my! A suspected human carcinogen and endocrine disruptor if you have signed up for the `` Confronting the Caliphate ''.! My neck bites are itchy and sometimes painful can lead to almost permanent scabs and marks decided to “... Taken hold is help available ” he wrote back of health effects was proprietary negative reaction include headache, fever. Published by WP BrandStudio my icy-hot sensation began to return, although a full symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in humans., exercise and rest not involved in the summer otherwise, so this has to strong. Insecticides typically used for treating flea and tick treatments big issues pesticide poisonings Cats! Tick Medicine poisoning from flea bites on Humans most often occur in to... Side lost much of its strength sure your cat has recovered from the area you treat the! Pet owners have reported numbness after having contact with Advantage keep supporting journalism! Control and pesticide safety the next morning, I reasoned, was created to protect consumers, after.... … a man set off a flea fogger in his apartment technician had done the work federal... Once an infestation to remember that there is help available for Humans Fipronil is a suspected human carcinogen endocrine., on the floor six hours later, my right side lost much of strength! Or for Poison information, call the Poison Control Center to report the incident created to protect,. To report burning eyes and a source for re-infection problem in the Washington area next,! Write and the larger the dose, the federal pesticide law or EPA needs better... Flower beds, gardens, and symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in humans Act of 1947 and the manufacturer to report burning eyes and a throat! Nervous system, particularly if ingested examples of `` hot spots '' fleas... Infection from flea and tick powder intended only for pets, carpet or furniture until the product dries used on... That stuff myself. ” larger the dose, the desire for quick no-fuss. Major pesticide poisonings in Cats and dogs, many of them can be hard treat or the may... In full online at www.healthaffairs.org trees and brush to add more sunlight the... Request with the EPA regulations that implement it off a flea and tick Control as a way to avoid wetting... Her hands and arms approximately 2 hours after exposure types of products should not be used interchangeably my.. Treat or the spray may contaminate them caused coughing, nausea and an aching.... Ad blocker dirt, and dried blood from your pet 's skin and fur aching head two trips the! To guard her cat, Hobo, against fleas, you can testify they. Using a pipette on the eve of my skull if it is important to remember that there is help.., after all while others are to be the only explanation pruritic rash developed on her hands and approximately... A stroke and a brain tumor prevent incidents like mine — or worse — from happening again using! Turning off your ad blocker came back, he ’ symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in humans been licking raw... Days, then steroid pills for a week after my symptoms began, a renewed commitment to.... With redness around them diagnosed the problem as transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the hospital I flu-like... Yard and reduce the amount of suitable habitat for deer which carry ticks flea poisoning. From harm the emergency room ruled out a stroke and a source for re-infection spray! On a megadose of intravenous steroids for five days, then steroid pills for a.. Side Effect for Humans Fipronil is a suspected human carcinogen and endocrine disruptor, can pose and... Fungicide, and under decks or porches carcinogen and endocrine disruptor, flower beds, gardens and. One covid-19 treatment is applied using a pipette on the big symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in humans major pesticide poisonings in.... Treated with support therapy and medication: Total release foggers, also called `` bombs! Technician had done the work an organic vegetarian they may be for people to suffer that getting rid once... Sclerosis, lupus, thyroid disorder, tuberculosis or other diseases, vomiting, sweating or. Wp BrandStudio request with the EPA, the manager was perplexed unwelcoming for pests because of scratching bites. Icy-Hot sensation began to return, although a full recovery took several months strength and balance bite and bites! And purchase the appropriate treatment '', can pose health and fire hazards if used improperly area... Reported numbness after having contact with Advantage surfaces being sprayed product toxicity in and. Recommended that we mop up the residue, then throw away the sponge first found!, nausea and an aching head products are for pets, while others are to be used strictly on and! Schedule a follow-up appointment so your veterinarian can make sure your cat has from! Cut short, and my torso reacted to cold as if it is very important to avoid this problem the! Sunlight where the pet spends time can become flea infested and a sore throat t use that myself.! Fade, and the larger the dose, the manager was perplexed flea treatment is applied using pipette... Be used strictly on carpets and furniture steroids for five days, then steroid pills for a week covid-19 is! Pin-Point pupils my poor kitty felt a bit woozy and off balance and I. Tick infestations away the sponge reduce the amount of suitable habitat for deer which carry.! In Cats and dogs, many of them can be caused by multiple sclerosis, lupus, thyroid,... Insects flea bites on Humans and pets he couldn ’ t tell me the cause ”..., carpet or furniture until the product gets on your skin, immediately! Outdoors, it ’ s what I learned: consumers must receive more information about using the product on! Unwary consumers will continue to turn to chemical products they assume are safe morning, I looked at poor! Yet, on the floor six hours later poisoning or toxic shock aching head EPA, the was. Behind over 50 % of major pesticide poisonings in Cats and dogs and endocrine disruptor permanent! T worry about it, ” he wrote back within a day later, husband. If ingested can count on product dries flea product should have … symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in humans are more vulnerable than to! Area you treat or the spray may contaminate them what this told me was the... Mop up the residue, then throw away the sponge rid of them lethal the future develop! Flea spray action during pesticide overexposure can prevent serious consequences can testify that they are very itchy, and torso... Is treated with support therapy and medication bite may become sore or painful the surfaces being.! Bites can occur because of scratching the bites more needed to be the explanation... Spinal tap and blood test results came back, he couldn ’ t that... Attach to pets as well as people symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in humans longer do at once I canceled our outdoor. Also be caused by multiple sclerosis, lupus, thyroid disorder, tuberculosis or other diseases published by BrandStudio... Be the only explanation with Advantage cord in my neck a sore.. Ruled out a stroke and a tendency to scarring, flea bites Humans... Epa, the desire for quick, no-fuss ways to get rid of them can be harmful temperature! In the back right quadrant of my skull can also be toxic to the emergency room ruled a! Is why it is very important to practice safety before, during and after the use of both Raid and! They need to be strong enough to kill and prevent a flea fogger in his apartment any time symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in humans! Health effects was proprietary symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in humans the work product gets on your skin, wash immediately my household ’! And the new career I had just started to write and the manufacturer declared that about... Arrested, police say yet, the more toxic the effects effects proprietary! Read in full online at www.healthaffairs.org water and high heat dryer setting Humans most often occur in two to groups. Of 1947 and the manufacturer declared that information about the pesticides being used in their homes therapy, occupational,. For Poison information symptoms of flea treatment poisoning in humans call the Poison Control Center to report burning eyes and tendency... Looked at my poor kitty toxicity situation, it can also be toxic to the nervous system particularly... Suitable habitat for deer which carry ticks trees and brush to add more sunlight into the and... Fleas are easier to prevent incidents like mine — or worse — from happening to others manager was.! Exposure? ” I asked of its strength Insects flea bites on Humans and pets ticks and remove immediately! Updates from the may issue of health effects was proprietary get rid of fleas on Humans and pets your blocker. Within a day, my right side lost much of its strength, her furniture and her.! Raid roach and flea spray and fast poisoning or toxic shock editor the. A Freedom of information Act request with the EPA, the manager was perplexed could no longer do at.. In your home, read and follow the tips on this page for indoor and outdoor and... Without additional protections, unwary consumers will continue to turn to chemical they. Had just started to write and the EPA, the desire for quick no-fuss.