Quick Tips for Treating Fire Ant Bites - Advice from an Experienced Survivor

If you've never experienced a fire ant bite you'll definitely remember the first one you receive. Your reaction may be mild or you may find that you'll require a doctor's care, but you should learn what to do in either case.

Unfortunately, I am one of those people who react strongly to fire ant bites and the reaction has gotten worse as I have gotten older.

I experienced my first fire ant bite while a college student in South Carolina. While standing outside my apartment talking to a friend, I suddenly felt some sharp pains on my feet and looked down to see my feet covered with ants. I had no idea what fire ants were at that time. But I soon learned. My friends told me to cover my fire ant bites with clear nail polish and that worked to reduce the itching. I wouldn't recommend this course of action, however.

Luckily, fire ants weren't a problem in Virginia where I lived for several years after finishing college. So I had all but forgotten about them when I moved down to south Georgia.

In Virginia, summer means running around barefoot if you want. That's not something I would recommend in the Deep South - unless you are in the sand at the beach. Fire ants seem to be everywhere. Especially in your yard. Even if you don't see a massive ant hill you might encounter them. They are horrible little creatures and if you have a bad reaction to them, you might be feeling the agony for more than just a few hours.

What fire ants do

Fire ants don't just bite and then walk away. They bite - and sting - several times. Even worse, the fire ant colonies tend to swarm. So if you are bitten by one ant, it is likely that you will be bitten by several.

Fire ant bites swell, itch worse than the chicken pox or even poison ivy, and in highly allergic people form pustules that are unsightly. I have suffered fire ant bites that had me limping for days and generally feeling lousy.

What to do if a fire ant bites you

If you are bitten by fire ants, go immediately inside and wash the affected areas with soap and water. Then take a Benadryl or any antihistamine that works well for you. Hopefully, this will lessen your reaction. It usually works for me.

I also like the Benadryl Anti-Itch spray. This is cooling and provides a coating that relieves the itch. Some people also swear by vinegar or a half water/half bleach solution. Tea tree oil, Worcestershire sauce, and crushed aspirin mixed with water are other options. Use these at your own risk.

The important thing to know is this: if you are allergic to a bee sting then you will probably have a severe reaction to a fire ant bite. If you are traveling to an area where fire ants live and you are not used to dealing with them, be sure to familiarize your self with their habitats. Carry your prescription allergy medicine or shots with you if you tend to be highly allergic to bee stings since you may have a similar reaction to fire ants.

Sources:
James P. Ralston, M.D., Fire Ant Bites, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1089027-overview