A fire ant worker can deliver a painful bite. What is worse, the ant holds on to the victim with its mouth. While the ant has its jaws clamped in the skin, it swivels its abdomen around and stings.
The sting is painful and it is the reason people use the term “fire ants”. The ants can hold on and keep stinging until they use up all of their venom. It is important to brush the ants off of the victim as quickly as possible.
People who are stung usually get small blisters at the site of the sting. The blisters can become infected if the person breaks them by scratching. For some people, the bigger threat is allergic reaction to the venom.
First aid for fire ant stings starts with something to stop the itching and redness. Experts recommend giving the victim an antihistamine. An anti-itch skin cream can help in many cases.
People have tried a variety of other remedies for fire ant stings. Many of the treatments are natural and some of them might work. However they are being reported here without any endorsement or recommendation. Here are some of the things that people have reported using for fire ant stings:
• Aloe juice. They suggest rubbing the end of a piece of an aloe leaf on the spot where the fire ant injected venom.
• Tea tree oil
• Oil of peppermint
• Baking soda and water mixed in a paste
Many people repeat suggestions that they hear but have not tried themselves. If someone recommends a fire ant treatment, it may be a good idea to check with a doctor. A person who has been stung by fire ants will not want to wait to find out if a treatment is going to help the pain or make it worse.
Experts suggest that if fire ants sting someone, the victim should be observed closely. If he or she shows signs of an allergic reaction to the venom, contact a doctor.