If you’re looking for a safer alternative to get rid of your infestation, you may have heard that Epsom salt will do the trick. There are many products on the market that promise to kill ants, but some of them are also dangerous for animals, plants, or people. What are some alternatives to Epsom salt?.Are there any dangers to using Epsom salt?.Your allergist will give you shots containing small doses of your allergen, allowing your body to build a natural immunity to the trigger.įind out more about stinging insect allergies. With proper testing, your allergist can diagnose your condition and determine the best form of treatment.Īllergy shots (immunotherapy) may be effective long-term treatment for stinging insect allergy. If you have had a serious adverse reaction to a fire ant sting you should be evaluated by an allergist / immunologist. Learn how to administer the epinephrine, and replace the device before the labeled expiration date.Įpinephrine is a rescue medication only, and you must still go to an emergency room immediately if you are stung. If you have a severe allergy, carry an autoinjectable epinephrine device. Shoes and gloves allow you to get away from the mound and to remove the shoes, socks and gloves with the attached stinging fire ants before they can reach your skin. When working in the garden or yard, wear work gloves. Wear closed-toe shoes and socks outdoors avoid going barefoot outside. The longer you stay near a mound, the more stings you may get. If you find or accidently disturb a mound, move away quickly. Commercial products are available but take several weeks to make the mounds disappear. Removing mounds requires killing the queen ant. This can result in hundreds of ants swarming out, coming to the defense of the mound. Unfortunately, since some mounds are flat, they may be stepped on accidently. Fire ants, like other insects, are most likely to sting if their homes are disturbed. While this looks like a pus-filled lesion that should be drained, it is really sterile, and will heal quickest if left alone.įirst, stay away. This results in the formation of a blister that fills with a cloudy white material in about 24 hours. The venom in a fire ant sting will kill bacteria and some of your skin cells. A single ant can inflict several stings in a matter of moments. This allows them to pull the stinger out, rotate and sting again. Since fire ants do not remove vegetation from the area around their mounds, they may be very hard to see.įire ants bite with their jaws while they sting. In dry, sandy soil the mounds may be entirely flat. In moist, clay-type soil, the mounds can be quite tall, up to 18 inches. An allergist / immunologist has specialized training and skills to test for stinging insect allergy and develop a plan to manage allergies.įire ants build nests of dirt in the ground, often on the edges of sidewalks or roads. Given the severity of a potential reaction, an accurate diagnosis for fire ant allergy is key to being prepared for an emergency. Symptoms of anaphylaxis require emergency medical treatment. In extreme cases, a rapid fall in blood pressure may result in shock and loss of consciousness. Symptoms of anaphylaxis typically involve more than one part of the body and may include itching and hives, swelling in the throat or tongue, difficulty breathing, dizziness, stomach cramps, nausea or diarrhea. Fire ants are a stinging insect typically found in the South/Southeast areas of the United States – from Florida to Texas, and in some parts of the Southwest.įor people with fire ant allergy, stings may cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-LAK-sis).
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