These stings can be really painful, especially as soon as the individual is bitten. In worse cases, fire ant stings may even cause you to develop blisters. This will happen if your skin is highly allergic to fire ant stings. In that case, you definitely need to turn to medical help instead of home remedies. Though these ant stings may seem deadly and sound dangerous, they can be easily dealt with by using home remedies to keep control until medical help arrives.
There is no tedious process in order to treat a red ant or a fire ant sting. Many times, we fail to notice that we have been bitten by an ant. In such a case, we tend to feel a burning sensation at the site of the infection without realizing that we have actually fallen prey to an ant sting. The symptoms of an ant bite are:. Allergic reactions occur in 0. Although allergic reactions can occur in any individual at any age, adults are more vulnerable to allergic reactions by ant bites.
More often than not, these reactions are coupled with swelling and redness on the site of the infection and also in areas away from the infection. This is the distinguishing factor of allergies, that it affects unaffected areas too. Hence, there is practically almost no danger of an individual becoming seriously allergic to ant bites. Below are some of the many allergic side effects one may have to go through in case of an ant bite:. This is the most basic of allergic reactions.
The person feels redness and swelling taking place on the site of the sting. It causes a little bit of discomfort for quite some time but poses no medical danger whatsoever. This condition is a little more severe than the local reaction. When the individual faces blistering and itching along with the redness and swelling, they are said to have a large local reaction to the sting. The effects of the large local reaction may last anywhere ranging from days to completely heal.
This situation occurs when the ant stings slightly disrupt the proper functioning of your Gastrointestinal tract. The individual may fall prey to diarrhea, stomach cramps, or vomiting.
In some cases, severe nausea and itching of the skin are also reported. Such a condition arises only in extreme cases, say when you have been bitten by a rare ant species or maybe a fire ant too if you are overly sensitive to allergic reactions.
Severe systemic reactions are characterized by a haywire functioning of any two vital organs. Dizziness, hypotension, hoarseness of voice, and chest pain are all symptoms of a severe systemic reaction. Certain people are more vulnerable to ant bites than others. Individuals who have little to no knowledge of where ants reside, or what they eat may find themselves running into these pests more often than others.
Such people are quite easy prey for ants and ant bites. They may venture into their vicinity and fall prey to a swarm of red or fire ants. Many ant species often dwell near mounds and hills, especially in forests. You may come upon such ant hills while trekking or camping. Children and the elderly are the easiest targets for ants if their anthill is disturbed.
They are pretty inclined to target a small child or an old person in case of the disruption of their home rather than looking for and attacking the actual real culprit. It can only be done with the help of medical aid. Allergic reactions due to ant stings must never be underestimated.
They eat both animals and a wide array of fruits and vegetables. These ants use their venom to stun their prey, allowing large groups of fire ants to overcome much larger animals quickly, such as box turtles.
Also a native of South America, Solenopsis richteri is commonly known as the black imported fire ant. Black fire ants have only traveled to a few states in the Gulf Coast and southeast, including Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama. Black fire ants also build mounds.
Theirs tend to be much larger than red fire ant mounds, often measuring several feet tall. These ants are almost identical to their red cousins in size and shape but are black or dark brown rather than reddish brown.
Both species aggressively defend their mounds, biting intruders in large groups. Stings are common among gardeners, playing children, and pets. Ants typically continue attacking until their victims leave the mound.
Most people are bitten on their legs and feet after stepping on a mound. Unlike many other species of stinging and biting insects, ants can sting multiple times.
A single worker ant will sting multiple times while attempting to defend their mound. Fire ant venom is a cocktail of at least 46 proteins. In most people, stings produce only minor skin irritation. However, recent testing of fire ant venom suggests that the venom contains poison that affects the nervous system.
This may explain why some fire ant sting victims report hallucinations and other similar symptoms, particularly after getting a large number of stings. A fire ant sting often begins with an intense pinching or burning pain immediately after the sting. This pain is short-lived, lasting anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Next comes itching or burning that may be mild or intense. Itching tends to get stronger over the next few days. Most stings heal on their own without treatment.
Fire ant stings produce a mark that sets them apart from other insect stings. The wounds are pus-filled blisters that are round and may look like pimples.
As fire ants tend to attack their victims in groups, the stings often come in clusters. Blisters appear quickly, usually within 20 minutes of a fire ant attack. Red Harvester Ant Stings Harvester ants are less common today than they once were. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. October 5, Red Fire Ant. Fire Ant Bites. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Fire Ants. National Library of Medicine.
July 9, Insect Bites and Stings Reactions. University of Notre Dame. August Scratching can cause the affected area to become infected, which can make sting and bite marks last longer. An allergic reaction can be fatal. Signs of a dangerous allergic reaction include:.
Symptoms develop quickly after exposure. If you have a severe allergy, there are involved long-term treatments, including whole body extract immunotherapy. During this process, an allergist-immunologist injects ant extracts and venom into your skin.
Over time, your sensitivity to the extracts and venom should decrease. The best way to avoid fire ant stings is to stay away from fire ants. If you see a nest, resist the temptation to disturb it. Wear shoes and socks when working and playing outside. Fire ant colonies are hard to destroy. There are some poisonous baits that when applied regularly may get rid of fire ants.
The most common is a pesticide called piretherine. The best time to use bait against fire ants is during the fall, when ants are less active. Professional pest control companies treat fire ants where they are common. Dousing a fire ant hill with boiling water can also be effective for killing the ants, but it is also likely to cause the survivors to attack.
Fire ants are a growing problem in the southern United States. Avoid them whenever you can, and take basic protective measures when going outside, such as wearing shoes and socks. Be on the lookout for a severe allergic reaction in anyone who has been stung, and get emergency medical help if needed. Chiggers live in tall weeds and grass, berry patches, and wooded areas. They may be in your backyard, by the lake, and along your favorite hiking….
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