Re: OT fire ant sting

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan,

Best thing to do is watch where you step! When I lived in south Florida, I was on the alert, constantly. I hiked quite a bit, and was exposed all the time. Fire ant mounds are easy to spot, and you can avoid them. Once I learned what to look out for, I never had a problem with them again. But I was not a gardener. If you work with the soil in FL, you must be on guard at all times, and wear protective gloves. If ants get on the gloves, remove the gloves immediately (throw them on the ground!) and run from the area.

If you do step on a mound, the ants will come pouring out in vast numbers, and it's best to get out of the area very quickly. Brush off all clothing - but some ants have their jaws imbedded, and will hang on indefinitely, and must be pulled off clothes. This may leave a small hole (their jaws are that powerful), and I ruined a pair of socks, as a result. But it's necessary to remove them any way you can.

If you get repeatedly stung, you may become more sensitve, and I've heard reports of increased reactions to stings, over time. This may not happen to you, but avoidance is important.

Below is some good info from this website:

http://www.muschealth.com/healthyaging/fireant.htm

Why is the sting worse than the bite?The fire ant bites the flesh to grab hold, and this is done so quickly and sharply that there is little pain. What inflicts the burn (hence the name fire ant) is the venom injected by a stinger. The venom is water-insoluble and nonproteinaceous and contains hemolytic factors that cause the release of histamine and other vasoactive amines. These produce itching and redness immediately and a bacterial uninfected pustule at the sting site after several hours. The venom also contains several allergenic proteins that can cause anaphylaxis in patients who are allergic to the proteins. Antigenic similarity exists between these proteins and bee and wasp venoms. First aid for the stings includes:

Move rapidly away from the nest Quickly remove or kill ants on skin and clothing – to prevent further stings Wash the area gently with soap and water to rid the skin of any venom on it Disinfect bite with alcohol Place cool cloth or ice cloth on sites for 15 minutes Try dabbing the site with one of the following: diluted (1:1) bleach solution, Kleen ‘Em Away Naturally, calamine lotion, Enzyme cleaner or meat tenderizer Consider a spraying topical (cortisone) or systemic (oral) antihistamine (e.g. benadryl) Do not scratch the pustule because this can lead to infection

The natural course is for the site to burn for several hours, then over 24 hours a pustule develops with itching, and over several days if not scratched the lesion will slowly disappear. Scratching can introduce infection and should be cleaned with alcohol. Rarely (0.5%) of patients will have an allergic response immediately or over the first few hours. The symptoms of this are difficulty breathing, light headedness and weakness. If allergic reaction occurs immediate medical attention by calling 911 is indicated. Bottom LineBe careful to avoid fire ants – when out scan the ground for mounds or other evidence of these vicious pests. The sting is painful and the pustule persists for about a week. These ants do more than ruin a picnic so be prepared for the

inevitable bite and sting.

- Jane

Subject: OT fire ant stingTo: Lyme_and_Rife Date: Thursday, September 30, 2010, 10:21 AM

Does anyone have a suggestion to draw out the toxins from Fire ant stings?Other than a baking soda poultice, which soothes it but doesnt do much else.Ive been stung about 4 times in the few months Ive been here.Too used to walking barefoot I go outside now with at least flip flops on.But how do I get rid of the toxins.I always end up with a fever after being stung.jan

"Im not trying to counsel any of you to do anything really special,except to dare to think, and to dare to go with the truth ,and to dare to love completely." -R. Buckminster Fuller

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan,

Be careful, Florida is loaded with fire ants...

Here is a link I keep just in case they get me... So far, I feel them biting and

I

swat them with my work glove and kill them before they can do much damage...

http://www.fireant.net/Bites/

Take care,

Jim

>

> Does anyone have a suggestion to draw out the toxins from Fire ant

stings?Other

> than a baking soda poultice, which soothes it but doesnt do much else.Ive been

> stung about 4 times in the few months Ive been here.Too used to walking

barefoot

> I go outside now with at least flip flops on.But how do I get rid of the

> toxins.I always end up with a fever after being stung.

> jan

>

> " Im not trying to counsel any of you to do anything

> really special,except to dare to think, and to dare to go with the truth ,and

to

> dare to love completely. " -R. Buckminster Fuller

>