MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Fire-ant

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Fire-ant

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms	Home Care Before Calling Emergency Poison Control What to Expect at the Emergency Room Outlook (Prognosis)

Illustrations

Insect bites on the legs

Definition Return to top

This article describes the effects of a fire ant bite.

Poisonous Ingredient Return to top

fire ant venom

Where Found Return to top

Fire ants are found the southern United States and other areas that do not freeze in winter.

Symptoms Return to top

body as a whole
- swelling around the site of bite
- pain at the site of bite
respiratory
- difficulty breathing (for those allergic to fire ants)
heart and vessels
- rapid heart rate (for those allergic to fire ants)
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- swelling in the throat (for those allergic to fire ants)
skin
- redness at the site of the bite
- itching at the site of the bite
- pustules (pus-filled blisters) that last 3-8 days
- possible decay of skin and formation of a scab at the area of the bite that lasts 3-10 days

Home Care Return to top

The best treatment is prevention where possible.

For those who have an allergy to insect bites or stings, it is important to carry a bee sting kit (which requires a prescription) and become familiar with how to use it if necessary.

Place ice (wrapped in a washcloth or other suitable covering) on the site of the bite for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process. If the patient has circulatory problems, decrease the time to prevent possible damage to the skin.

After a bite, call Poison Control or a hospital emergency room for guidance if the person has an allergy to the insect. It may be necessary to go to the hospital if the reaction is severe.

Before Calling Emergency Return to top

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
identification of the insect, if possible
the time when the bite occurred

Poison Control Return to top

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. If possible, bring the insect to the emergency room for identification.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room Return to top

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Give prescribed medications by injection or orally
Establish and maintain an airway if needed
Treat the symptoms

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

The sooner appropriate treatment is started, the better the outcome. Patients not allergic to fire ants should be completely fine in a few hours to a few days.

Update Date: 2/13/2006

Updated by: Eric Perez, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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