There are several species of ants capable of sting, with fire ants being the most well-known and potentially causing allergic reactions. Their color ranges between red and black, and they inhabit domestic environments, gardens, parks, and rural areas. Some ants only sting, but some ants sting because they have a stinging device (the stinger) and thus inject poison into the skin.
What happens when ants sting?
After stings, three types of reactions can occur:
- Local reaction. It is a reaction that only remains in the area where the sting occurred. It can cause a burning sensation and then there may be a small black dot or red ball at the site of the sting, it can also be itchy, but nothing that doesn’t go away within a few days;
- Toxic systemic reaction. This reaction is caused by multiple stings, such as stepping on an ant nest. In this case, the reaction occurs due to the large amount of poison that is injected into the body, and the reactions occur as a result of the action of the poison itself.
- Severe allergic reaction. It is caused by an allergy to ant venom, with symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, abdominal discomfort, skin changes, shortness of breath and fainting. In this reaction, it is very important to pay attention to the signs to be able to recognize it in time, and if this happens, seek emergency help immediately.
Is there any treatment for local allergic reactions?
In local reactions, only cold compresses to reduce swelling and some medications to reduce itching are recommended, but do not use anything without medical advice!
If you have already had an allergic reaction, you need to be extra careful, because the risk of another serious reaction is much higher than in people in general. To prevent these bites, there are simple recommendations, such as not walking barefoot on the grass or in places where there are ant nests.
For more information, watch the video on Dr. Agoda’s YouTube channel
