Bitten By A Brown Ant 3 Times

[kurnell]

This morning I was bitten 3 times on the foot and ankle by those little fat brown ants that are everywhere in Thailand. This has happened many times before and I always have an allergic reaction, usually quote mild and localized around the bite area - redness, swelling and itching for 4-5 days.

This morning however, I knew that something was different. The palms of my hands became itchy, my face became hot and my lips went numb. I went straight to hospital and during the 10 minute ride my entire body apart from legs and face was covered with a rash. The doctor asked if my breathing was ok, and I said it was and he checked for oxgen levels in my blood which had dropped.

I went straight onto a drip and the rash and symptoms receded after about 40 minutes.

I'm back at the office now, but still a little stoned from the medication. Not half bad.

Anyone else had this sort of reaction to those brown ants or other insects?

I have pics, but no idea how to attach...saw something about URL blah blah

[lopburi3]

You need to use the full editor - click add replay and below the text writing area will be add attachment area with a brouse window to find the JPG to upload.

[technocracy]

You were actually stung by the ants not bitten.

I never knew this until I watch a program on the Discovery channel and these fire ants as they are called grip on to your skin with there mandible and then sting.

So there you go . . . either way I thankfully do not have any reactions to there stings other than the annoying usual itch, I say thankfully as I've been stung by the buggers millions of times!

Edited September 1, 2009 by technocracy

[wpcoe]

Goodness! I didn't know we had fire ants in Thailand. I thought the spiders, scorpions and snakes were enough. <sigh...>

[kurnell]

Are they fire ants? I can take a picture if anyone thinks they can identify them.

[Sheryl]

What you describe is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Sorry to scare you, but the next time you are stung by the same critters, it may be much worse and you might not get to a hospital in time.

You need to get something called an "Epi-Pen", it is an easy to use device which will automatically inject you with epinephrine (you just touch it to your leg and it auto-injects, no need to actually stick yourself). They should have told you this and prescribed it in the hospital, but as they apparently did not, see an allergy specialist and get one. Keep it with you or in easy reach at all times. At the first sign of another reaction, use it and then go to nearest hospital.

People allergic to one type of insect may also be allergic to others so you may in future have problems from other types of insect bites and stings.

There are all manner of ants in Thailand but most people are not allergic and thus will not react in the manner described, altho there will be a brief sting.

[kurnell]

What you describe is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Sorry to scare you, but the next time you are stung by the same critters, it may be much worse and you might not get to a hospital in time.

You need to get something called an "Epi-Pen", it is an easy to use device which will automatically inject you with epinephrine (you just touch it to your leg and it auto-injects, no need to actually stick yourself). They should have told you this and prescribed it in the hospital, but as they apparently did not, see an allergy specialist and get one. Keep it with you or in easy reach at all times. At the first sign of another reaction, use it and then go to nearest hospital.

People allergic to one type of insect may also be allergic to others so you may in future have problems from other types of insect bites and stings.

There are all manner of ants in Thailand but most people are not allergic and thus will not react in the manner described, altho there will be a brief sting.

I had thought about this as the symptoms seems to be getting worse. I did a little bit of research on the internet and it seems that the fact that I was bitten several times added to the severity of the symptoms.

My 3yo also has been bitten by these ants and has welts that last for a week. She was bitten yesterday and is starting to show more serious symptoms also.

Our local hospital, Samitivej Srinakarin is only 5-10 minutes away, but that doesn't help if I am not breathing.

[jellymeister]

Are they fire ants? I can take a picture if anyone thinks they can identify them.

I don't think it is fire ants that are being discussed here, but the pesky little brown ones who sting you without much pain, but which can cause an allergic reaction...fire ant stings are really painful....

[Macx]

OP, that's a scary scenario. Glad to hear you're better.

Thanks, Sheryl for the info.

I usually have bad reaction to insect bites. Ant bites can cause severe itchiness and rash lasting up to two weeks.

Once I had the pleasure of eating a soup where someone had added about half a teaspoon of red ant eggs/juice/whatever into the broth. Within 45 minutes, I had severe stomach cramps that had me heading to the emergency room--though the closest one was about 3 hrs away. The cramps came with burps and pain right in the upper belly region. It was so painful I couldn't talk or walk. Got into the car and headed to the hospital. Half way there (1.5 hr), I felt marginally better and decided to wait it out. Six hours later I was feeling better and was able to eat dinner.

The next day my face swelled up around the nose area. A pharmacist gave me a bunch of anti histamine pills and that took the swelling away after 2 days.

Anyone with similar experiences?