Sherwood Estates III

Fire Ants & Your Children

May 07, 2001

contributed by Oscar Rascon


When it ocmes to fire ants, the best policy is avoidance. Aggressive, venomous and highly mobile, fire ants were first imported into the US from South America in the early 1920s. Since that time these meddlesome creatures have slowly migrated throughout most of the southern US. The ants are small (less than a quarter of an inch long), reddish-brown to black and live in colonies that consist of mounds with long, radiating underground tunnels. Children often mistake fire ant mounds for sand piles, and that's when problems arise.

The fire ant's attack is a two-part process consisting of a bite and a sting. When the ant stings, it injects a venom that causes the release of histamine, a chemical in our bodies that can produce pain, itching, swelling and redness of the skin. Within seconds after the sting, discomfort occurs at the local site and a small red welt appears. The welt can enlarge rapidly, depending on the amount of venom that was injected and the victim's sensitivity to the venom. The reaction persists for up to an hour, and then a small blister that contains clear fluid will form. Over the next half day or so, the fluid in the blister turns cloudy, and the area begins to itch. Most children experience only a small amount of redness around the sting site. A small percentage of children are sensitive to the venom and experience more extensive redness and swelling. Fortunately, only a very small number of victims have extensive allergic reactions such as breathing difficulties or widespread swelling of body parts.

To help children avoid fire ants, parents should regularly check their yards and their children's play areas for the presence of the ants and their mounds. Then they should either eliminate the ants or make sure their children avoid them. If a child is stung, apply ice to the bite site for 10 to 15 minutes. Parents should also clean and clip the child's fingernails to prevent any secondary infection that can result from scratching the very itchy bites.

Despite myths to the contrary, only a very small number of children who have been stung by fire ants are actually allergic to the venom and require desensitization by a pediatric allergist. Medical attention should be sought if redness and swelling occur over an area greater than ten inches in length, if two or more joints beyond the bite site are affected or if more widespread signs occur, such as difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing or widespread swelling of body parts.