Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Dealing with Fire Ants
• Method 2 of 4: Find out if you have a bite allergy
• Method 3 of 4: Treating Fire Ant Bites
• Method 4 of 4: Home Remedies
• Tips
• Warnings

During the bite, the fire ant injects venom, which can cause itching, swelling, and redness of the skin. Discomfort occurs at first, accompanied by a small scar, which soon becomes a blister. The fluid in the blister may become cloudy and the skin area may itch, swell, and become sore. Learn what to do with fire ants, how to spot an allergic reaction, and how to treat bites to reduce swelling and pain. If you experience shortness of breath after being bitten by a fire ant, seek immediate medical attention.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Dealing with Fire Ants

1. 1 Move away from the fire ant nest. Most bites occur when people accidentally step on or land on an anthill, disturbing hundreds of thousands of fire ants ready to defend their home. If you feel bites, move away from the area immediately.
2. 2 Remove the ants. Ants grip your skin with their jaws, and they are quite difficult to remove. Quickly peel them off, one at a time, and drop them on the ground.
   • You can try to shake off the ants, but if they have already grabbed their jaws, then they will continue to hang tightly.
   • Do not crush the ants as this will make them more angry.
   • If ants climb on your clothes, also remove them immediately.

Method 2 of 4: Find out if you have a bite allergy

1. 1 Consider your symptoms. An allergy to fire ant bites is rare, but if it is, then you should immediately seek medical attention. Swelling and pain is normal, but if you have the following symptoms, go to the hospital or emergency department right away:
   • Hives, itching, and swelling in areas other than the bite site.
   • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
   • Heaviness in the chest and shortness of breath.
   • Swelling of the larynx, tongue, and lips, or difficulty swallowing.
   • Anaphylactic shock, which occurs in the most severe cases, can lead to dizziness, darkening of the eyes, and cardiac arrest if medical attention is not sought promptly.
2. 2 Get help. An allergic reaction should be treated with epinephrine, antihistamines, or steroids in a hospital under the supervision of a physician.
   • If you know you are allergic to fire ant bites, you may have epinephrine shots. You can give the injection yourself, or you can ask a friend to do it and then go to the hospital.

Method 3 of 4: Treating Fire Ant Bites

1. 1 Lift the affected area of ​​the body. While getting home for bite treatment, raise your arms to minimize swelling.
2. 2 Wash the bite with soapy water. Gently rinse the skin area and remove any dirt from it. This will help prevent infection.
3. 3 Apply a cold compress to the bitten area. This will relieve the itching, swelling and numbness of the bitten area.
4. 4 Take an antihistamine or hydrocortisone ointment. These medicines are available without a prescription and can help relieve pain and itching.
5. 5 Don't poke the blister. After a few hours, the swelling will subside a little, and you will have a blister. If you don't pierce the blister, the infection will not spread. Do not scratch it as you may inadvertently rupture the blister.
   • If the blister ruptures, wash it with soapy water and watch for signs of infection.
   • If the skin loses color or starts to fester, it is a sign of infection. Seek medical attention immediately.

Method 4 of 4: Home Remedies

The remedies described below have been used successfully by various people. They may or may not help you, so make judgments about their effectiveness based on your personal experience. See your doctor for any complications.

1. 1 Use rubbing alcohol and a meat tenderizer.
   • After shaking off the ants, immediately wipe off the bites with rubbing alcohol.
   • Raise the affected area and sprinkle generously with meat softener. This will slow down the spread of the effects of the bite.
2. 2 Use hand sanitizer.
   • Store a bottle of liquid hand sanitizer in your bag.
   • After removing the ants, wipe the bites with hand sanitizer.
   • This will dull the pain for a while and slow the spread of the effects of the bite by several hours.
   • Take an antihistamine (when available).
3. 3 Rub the bite area thoroughly with a mixture of baking soda and water. This will reduce itching and redness.
   • Or use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar (or just vinegar).
4. 4 At intervals of 10 minutes, apply a cloth soaked in cold water or an ice pack to the bite site.
   • Be careful - ice can burn your skin if kept on the skin for too long.
5. 5 Wipe the bite site with ammonia. You can use any glass cleaner to do this.

Tips

• Watch out for anthills and stay away from them, and also keep your loved ones and pets away from them.
• See where you stand, where you sit, or where you put your things. Vigilance will help prevent bites.
• Aloe vera can help soothe the pain of the bite. But for this you need to use fresh aloe vera leaf. Cut the sheet so that it opens like a book. A vegetable peeler is best suited for this purpose. If you want, cut off the thorns around the edges of the leaf.

Warnings

• Allergic reactions can be minor or severe. Any abnormal reaction should be reported to the doctor.
• The best prevention is to lubricate exposed skin with a specific agent, such as fipronil.