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Saturday, 18 August 2012

What To Do If Fire Ant Bites Occur

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By Gerald Hipps


The fact that fire ants are an ominous red color is enough to suggest that we should stay away from them. In many cases, fire ant bites are not life threatening and can be easily treated, but it is likely that most people do not know how. Being educated on the basics of these feisty creatures could help to notice more severe symptoms, which could lead to death, but could help avoiding the bite in the first place.

A bitten person will surely be aware that he or she has been bitten. He or she will experience a burning sensation at the inflicted location, which is why they are called "fire ants." The bite will probably become itchy, red, and inflamed, and might even result in blistering. These are the common effects, though some people are excessively allergic, and if the symptoms seem to be overly severe, death could occur, so being educated is important.

Everyone should make sure that children playing outside know that these little pests are very dangerous and to stay away from them. Kids should be taught never to kick over their colonies. Instead, if they are spotted on the property, the homeowner should obtain a cypermethrin solution and apply it generously to the areas in which the colonies are found. Watering the area will help to adhere it to the ground.

In the event that a person should be bitten, there are a few things that can be done. Obviously, make sure that the ant is removed from the body and that there are no others, since they do travel in groups. Then take an antihistamine for potential symptoms. It will likely begin to burn or sting, so to reduce these effects, applying meat tenderizer or crushed aspirin and water to the affected area will help.

Bites from fire ants will almost always itch intensely, so you should know that it is safe, and recommended, to apply over-the-counter anti-itch cream. Try not to scratch the bite to avoid opening wounds; but if this does occur, antibiotic solution should be applied to the sore. The affected person should be aware that if the symptoms seem to be getting worse or unbearable, he or she needs to seek medical attention.

Fire ant bites are certainly not a lot of fun. For most people, though, they are simply uncomfortable and can be treated with over-the-counter remedies. It is important that everyone is aware that the issues can be more serious in people that are more sensitive, so be aware of more intense symptoms, like sore throats. Try to prevent the bites from happening by destroying colonies if possible and avoiding them if not.




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