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Should you experience the misfortune of an attack by Red Imported
Fire Ants, or RIFA - typically after unwittingly disturbing a nest - you can
expect to endure itching and burning, redness, swelling, blistering, postules
and perhaps serious infections from the dozens to hundreds of stings. If you
are among the few who are particularly sensitive to the ant's venom, you might
even suffer the life-threatening allergic response called "anaphylaxis," a
condition that requires emergency medical care.
If Possible, Avoid the Ants or Minimize Stinging
 First, if possible, steer clear of RIFA nest mounds, which may
harbor hundreds of thousands of the ants. Typically, the mounds are characterized
by a several-inch-high and 12- to 18-inch-wide symmetrical pile of loose soil
without the central opening typical of most ant nests. Most often, you will find
them in open fields, but you may also find RIFA nests sequestered within crevices
or openings in and around your home.
If you have to work in the vicinity of RIFA nests, cover your
skin and clothing with an insect repellent, which will help discourage an approach
by the insects. Wear rubber boots and gloves powdered with talc or baby powder,
which helps suffocate ants that might crawl onto your legs and arms.
If ants still manage to reach and attack your legs and arms,
latching onto your skin with their mandibles, brush them off as quickly as possible
with a cloth or handkerchief. If you can remove the ants promptly, before they
inject their venom, you can prevent the formation of postules.
Sting Treatment
If you experience a relatively mild attack, with relatively few
stings:
- Wash the
area as quickly as possible with antiseptic soap.
- Further sterilize
the area with alcohol.
- If you do not have a commercial preparation
or medication immediately available, apply ice judicially or a baking-soda-and-water
paste to help relieve the itching and burning.
- If available, apply topical corticosteroids or use a nonseditive antihistamine
- carefully following the instructions on the label - to relieve the itching
and burning.
- You may find longer-term relief in specially formulated commercial
products such as: Wipe Away Pain Fire Ant Sting Medicated First Aid Gel, Re-Leaf
with aloe for Fire Ant Bites Pain Relief Gel, Organic Plus Sting Out, Mitigato
Sting and Bite Treatment and Campho Phenique. Again, follow the directions on
the label.
- Remember
that many home remedies, for instance, meat tenderizers, may do more harm than
good.
- During any treatment, take special care to avoid causing postules
to rupture, which may open the way for invasion of bacteria and subsequent infection
and scarring.
If you experience a severe RIFA attack, with multiple stings,
sterilize the area and, to the extent possible, treat the itching and burning,
but consult a doctor promptly for treatment. If you experience anaphylaxis symptoms
- falling blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, swelling, facial puffiness, severe
sweating, wheezing, hives and slurred speech - call for emergency medical help.
Remember that if you have diabetes or a circulatory disorder, you may be at greater
risk for complications.
Useful Sources
Texas A&M University Internet site, Fire Ant Plan Fact Sheet #023, Bastiaan
M. Drees
The Best Control, Stephen Tvedten
L. E. Gilbert, University of Texas at Austin Internet site
Author: Jay Sharp
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