![]() ![]() Dizziness, shortness of breath, and nausea occur in moderately severe reactions. Gastrointestinal system symptoms may consist of mild nausea, diarrhoea, and/or abdominal cramping. Skin manifestations include flushing, itch, angioedema, urticaria, and redness in areas distant from the bite/sting and/or a generalised distribution. Mild systemic reactionĪ mild systemic reaction involving the skin and/or gastrointestinal system develops in less than 1% of ant bites/stings. In many cases, the severity peaks after 1 to 2 days, and takes 7 to 10 days to resolve. Large local reactionĪ large local reaction of pain, erythema, blisters, swelling, and itch is defined as involving a large area of skin greater than 10 cm around the bite/sting site persisting for at least 24 hours. A local reaction lasts for less than 24 hours. The swelling is usually less than 5 cm in diameter, and is sometimes urticarial (wealing). It consists of localised pain, itch, redness, swelling, and induration. Local reaction is the most common presentation following an ant bite/sting. ![]() Allergic reactions to Hymenoptera are classified into 4 categories: Local reaction Generally, allergic reactions to Hymenoptera bites are milder than to stings. Myrmecia pilosula, commonly known as the jack jumper ant, is native to Australia, and is the most common cause of Hymenoptera-induced fatal anaphylaxis in Tasmania.Īllergic reactions to ant bites and stings Pachycondyla chinensis is an invasive ant species that has spread to New Zealand from Far East Asia, and the sting can cause anaphylaxis. However, the sting from harvester ants and fire ants can cause unpleasant symptoms and may lead to allergic reactions. ![]() Most ants are too small to effectively bite humans, and their sting is mild. Although they can nearly all bite or sting, few cause significant local and/or systemic reaction in humans. There are more than 12,000 species of ants. The order of Hymenoptera includes bees and wasps. More about antsĪnts belong to Hymenoptera insect order, under the family of Formicidae. Large local reactions and systemic reactions are IgE-mediated, seen in individuals already sensitised to ant venom. Ants form nests comprising several mounds of varied height and diameter, sometimes reaching more than 0.5 metre and several centimetres high.Īnts tend to be more numerous in areas with: Who gets an ant bite?Īnyone in contact with ants is at risk of ant bites or stings, particularly if they are in an area where ants build their nests. Yet other species of ants neither bite nor sting, but instead spray formic acid. Fire ants grasp the skin (bite) then inject venom with their stinger (which is immediately painful). A bite differs from a sting: only female ants have a stinger, the caudal-most part of their bodies. An ant bite occurs when an ant bites using their mandibles and mouth to pinch human skin. ![]()
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