Fire Ant Bites Medication

  • Author: James P Ralston, MD; Chief Editor: Rick Kulkarni, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 23, 2012
 

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and to prevent complications.

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Antihistamines

Class Summary

These agents are for mild-to-severe reactions.

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Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Benylin)

 

For symptomatic relief of symptoms caused by release of histamine in allergic reactions.

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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Class Summary

These agents relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

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Ibuprofen (Ibuprin, Advil, Motrin)

 

Inhibits inflammatory reactions and pain by decreasing prostaglandin synthesis.

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Corticosteroids

Class Summary

These agents have anti-inflammatory properties and cause profound and varied metabolic effects. Corticosteroids modify the body's immune response to diverse stimuli. A short course may be used for severe local reactions.

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Prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone, Sterapred)

 

May decrease inflammation by reversing increased capillary permeability and suppressing PMN activity. Many dosing regimens have been used.

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Anaphylaxis treatment kit

Class Summary

This agent is used for anaphylaxis reactions.

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Epinephrine (EpiPen, Adrenalin)

 

DOC for treating anaphylactoid reactions. Has alpha-agonist effects that include increased peripheral vascular resistance, reversed peripheral vasodilatation, systemic hypotension, and vascular permeability. Beta-agonist effects of epinephrine include bronchodilatation, chronotropic cardiac activity, and positive inotropic effects.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

James P Ralston, MD  President, Dermatology Center of McKinney

James P Ralston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ronald P Rapini, MD  Josey Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center

Ronald P Rapini, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Elsevier publishers Royalty Independent contractor

Specialty Editor Board

Daniel J Hogan, MD  Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine (Dermatology), Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Investigator, Hill Top Research, Florida Research Center

Daniel J Hogan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Contact Dermatitis Society, and Canadian Dermatology Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey J Miller, MD  Associate Professor of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, Pennsylvania State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Jeffrey J Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, North American Hair Research Society, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE  Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds Investigator; Genentech Grant/research funds investigator; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Abbott Grant/research funds investigator; Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Novartis investigator; Pfizer Grant/research funds investigator; Celgene Consulting fee DMC Chair; NIAMS and NHLBI Grant/research funds investigator

Chief Editor

Rick Kulkarni, MD  Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Rick Kulkarni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: WebMD Salary Employment

References

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  2. More DR, Kohlmeier RE, Hoffman DR. Fatal anaphylaxis to indoor native fire ant stings in an infant. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. Mar 2008;29(1):62-3. [Medline].

  3. La Shell MS, Calabria CW, Quinn JM. Imported fire ant field reaction and immunotherapy safety characteristics: the IFACS study. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Jun 2010;125(6):1294-9. [Medline].

  4. [Guideline] Moffitt JE, Golden DB, Reisman RE, Lee R, Nicklas R, Freeman T, et al. Stinging insect hypersensitivity: a practice parameter update. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Oct 2004;114(4):869-86. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  5. Williams DF, deShazo RD. Biological control of fire ants: an update on new techniques. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. Jul 2004;93(1):15-22. [Medline].

  6. Burroughs R, Elston DM. What's eating you? Fire ants. Cutis. Feb 2005;75(2):85-9. [Medline].

  7. Champion RH, Burton JL, Burns DA. Rook/Wilkinson/Ebling Textbook of Dermatology. Vol 2. 6th ed. London, England: Blackwell Science; 1998:1436-7.

  8. Cotran RS, Kumar V, Collins T, eds. Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1999:1212.

  9. Dambro MR, Griffith JA. Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999:570-1.

  10. Ellis AK, Day JH. Clinical reactivity to insect stings. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. Aug 2005;5(4):349-54. [Medline].

  11. Ford JL, Dolen WK, Feger TA, Hoffman DR, Stafford CT. Evaluation of an in vitro assay for fire ant venom-specific IgE. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Sep 1997;100(3):425-7. [Medline].

  12. Freedberg IM, Eisen AZ, Wolff K, eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. Vol 2. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1999:2693-5.

  13. Goddard J, Jarratt J, de Castro FR. Evolution of the fire ant lesion. JAMA. Nov 1 2000;284(17):2162-3. [Medline].

  14. Hoffman DR. Reactions to less common species of fire ants. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Nov 1997;100(5):679-83. [Medline].

  15. Jerrard DA. ED management of insect stings. Am J Emerg Med. Jul 1996;14(4):429-33. [Medline].

  16. Kemp SF, deShazo RD, Moffitt JE, Williams DF, Buhner WA. Expanding habitat of the imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta): a public health concern. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Apr 2000;105(4):683-91. [Medline].

  17. Lee TH, Comes S, Burgos T. ePocrates qRx. ePocrates Inc. Available at http://www.epocrates.com/. Accessed 2000.

  18. Odom RB, James WD, Berger TG. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000:559.

  19. Ownby DR. Pediatric anaphylaxis, insect stings, and bites. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 1999;19 (2):347-61.

  20. Rakel RE. Conn's Current Therapy 2000. 52nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000:753-5.

  21. Smith KE, Fenske NA. Cutaneous manifestations of alcohol abuse. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jul 2000;43(1 Pt 1):1-16; quiz 16-8. [Medline].

 
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Imported fire ant national distribution map. From http://fireant.tamu.edu. Reproduced with permission from B.M. Drees, Texas Imported Fire Ant Project Coordinator, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Red imported fire ant worker. From http://fireant.tamu.edu. Reproduced with permission from B.M. Drees, Texas Imported Fire Ant Project Coordinator, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Fire ant mound in lawn. From http://fireant.tamu.edu. Reproduced with permission from B.M. Drees, Texas Imported Fire Ant Project Coordinator, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Venom sac and stinger of a fire ant. From http://fireant.tamu.edu. Reproduced with permission from B.M. Drees, Texas Imported Fire Ant Project Coordinator, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Fire ant worker biting and stinging. From http://fireant.tamu.edu. Reproduced with permission from B.M. Drees, Texas Imported Fire Ant Project Coordinator, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Pustules and blisters formed following fire ant stings on the arm. From http://fireant.tamu.edu. Reproduced with permission from B.M. Drees, Texas Imported Fire Ant Project Coordinator, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Pustules and blisters formed following fire ant stings on the hand. From http://fireant.tamu.edu. Reproduced with permission from B.M. Drees, Texas Imported Fire Ant Project Coordinator, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Fire ant bites on the foot.
 
 
 
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