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The red ant grasps human skin with its tiny mandibles and spews its venom under the skin resulting instantaneously in pain.
Usually there are several ants biting at a time, and the bites appear as white pustules or yellowish blisters on a raised red base.
The bites are itchy and painful, and expel a clear liquid when they burst.
Fire Ant Bites: Ouch
Red ants, also known as fire ants, are part of a species with hundreds of variants. We find the dark red tiny ant in South America, and throughout the southern United States, Australia, Taiwan, and the Phillipines, to name a few – most typically in sunny, sandy places.
While not all red ants are vicious biting ants, you will certainly be wary of the powerful sting these tiny insects can render if you are bitten – especially if you are bitten more than once.
When you get several fire ant bites there is often surrounding swelling, say on a foot or hand, and moderate to extreme discomfort. It is at this point that you may find yourself at your doctor’s office, wondering what to do – and further wondering if you are allergic to the ants, or if you have an infection.
What is a True Red Ant Bite Allergy?
Scratching raised red ant bites can open the skin, resulting in infection. There is then more erythema (redness) and swelling and even more discomfort.
This isn’t an allergy, nor is the initial bite response of a raised reddened pustule, nor even the accompanying swelling a sign of allergic reaction. These are all normal reactions to the bite itself.
An true allergic reaction is a systemic result of the bite(s). There might be a change in blood pressure, swelling on another untouched part of the body, such as the tongue or face or the entire leg when only the foot is bitten.
There might be shortness of breath, or even passing out. People who are allergic to ant bites might carry an epi-pen with them so they can easily give themselves a shot of epinephrine in their thigh (right through pants if necessary) until help can come.
Swarms of red ants after storms or in large piles have bitten humans, and the sheer number of bites can cause death or allergic reactions, although this is rare. These extreme attacks are not the norm and thus are reported in the news such as the attacks in 2006 and 2008.
Red Ant Bite Treatment
The typical treatment for the unfortunate person bitten begins with washing the area with an alcohol wipe. This helps diminish the stinging effect temporarily and cleans the site. Next, you can apply a steroid cream, such as an over the counter hydrocortisone cream, locally. Scratching the blister roof off may put you at risk of locally infecting yourself, so try to leave the bumps alone as much as possible. Try an over the counter antihistamine (allergy pills) to help reduce the itching, or making meat tenderizer into a paste and applying it to the skin to treat symptoms. Benadryl is helpful for itching and swelling, but has a sedative effect for many people. Over time, the bite eventually ulcerates and the redness gradually recedes.
Fire Ants: When to See a Doctor
Most people get over an ant bite with a few days – if your bites are getting worse instead of better, or if you have any health concerns, always check with your doctor. Remember, ants don’t bite people unless they step in their area – that is, they don’t attack humans, but wait till they feel threatened. The ants may not be out to get you, and you may not suffer a severe allergic reaction, but their bite does hurt, so be prepared.
Pest World.org. Red Imported Fire Ants. (2012). Accessed December 7, 2012.
University of Florida. Featured Creatures Red Imported Fire Ant. (2012). Accessed December 7, 2012.
Source: Fact Sheet 041, Welcome to Texas! Avoiding the Sting of Fire Ants. Accessed December 7, 2012.
ABC News. Beware of Bugs. (2006). Accessed December 7, 2012.
Pravada.ru. Fire Ant Bites Kill Florida Man. (2008). Accessed December 7, 2012.
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