Do Fire Ants Give You Adrenaline?
WouterDespite their small size, fire ants can be extremely painful. They bite people with their mandibles, and sting several times in a short period of time. This can cause an intense burning sensation, as well as a pus-filled mark on the skin.
Fire ant stings are known to cause local allergic reactions. These reactions may last several days to weeks. These reactions may be mild or severe. Itching, flushing, dizziness, nausea, and abdominal cramping may occur. Antihistamines and topical corticosteroid ointments may help reduce these symptoms.
A severe allergic reaction to an ant bite may result in anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is an emergency medical condition that requires immediate medical attention. If you have had a fire ant sting before, or you have a known allergy to ant venom, you should have an autoinjector containing epinephrine at home.
In most cases, an ant bite will be followed by a local reaction. These reactions are IgE-mediated and can occur up to 7 days after the bite. These reactions include localized edema, erythema, and redness. These reactions are often mast-cell dependent.
A systemic allergic reaction to an ant bite may also occur. It is most likely to occur in adults. These reactions can also occur in children. Some symptoms of an allergic reaction include bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, and urticaria pigmentosa.
The venom in fire ant stings is 95% water-insoluble. The alkaloid portion of the venom has cytotoxic and hemolytic properties. The venom causes the pain, swelling, and redness.
