A sticktight flea removed from the cheek of a two-year-old boy from Los Angeles.
Species-level identification of an ectoparasite often requires outside expertise. Patients are increasingly turning to the internet for medical information, in part to gain access to experts. We present a case of a flea identified after contact was made between a patient's father and the authors via an insect-related forum on the internet. The flea had been attached for 12 hours without inducing symptoms before it was removed. The specimen was identified as a sticktight flea Ectoparasites in the differential diagnosis for this case are discussed.
Carlson
John C
JC
Department of Allergy, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, Tulane University, School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. john.carlson@tulane.edu
Fox
Mark S
MS
D000818:Animals; D002610:Cheek / Q000469:parasitology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005423:Siphonaptera