Fire ants: the death march
Schwartz, M.P.
Journal of Family Practice 33(4): 406 409-10
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0094-3509 PMID: 1919459 Document Number: 371998
The case is reported of a 31-year-old man who received a single fire ant (Solenopsis invicta or S. richteri) bite on his right thumb. Within minutes he suffered headache, paraesthesiae, flushing, and tachycardia. Hospital examination, including cerebrospinal fluid and computed tomography were essentially normal. Inspite of the dramatic initial symptoms he made an uncomplicated recovery. He later reacted to intradermal allergy testing for fire ant using whole-body extract at 1: million (w/v), and subsequently underwent desensitization and maintenance therapy. A second bite, one year after the first, resulted in only local erythema.