Medical Questions » First Aid Questions » Question No. 400
| Question: | I was bitten badly by ants when I trod on a nest recently. What is the best first-aid treatment for ant bites? |
| Answer: | The treatment for any ant, insect or spider bite depends on several factors. The normal green or red ant bite will sting for several hours, and then itch for days. It is not likely to cause any severe reaction, but considerable discomfort can ensue.
Immediately after the bite apply ice or cold water, and leave it there for 15 minutes or more. After this, anti-itch creams available from a chemist or methylated spirits applied to the bite site may ease the irritation. If severe discomfort persists, a steroid cream obtained from a doctor will give relief. If the patient is allergic to the particular insect, an antihistamine tablet should be given immediately, if available an antihistamine cream should be applied, and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible.
Some allergic reactions can be severe enough to cause breathing to stop and the heart to beat irregularly. Mouth to mouth resuscitation should be given in this situation. If the bite is from a potentially lethal spider such as the funnel web or red-back in a child (no ants or other Australian insects come in to this category), the limb bitten should be bandaged firmly from the bite site to the groin or armpit, and then down to the foot or hand. The limb should be splinted, and the patient transported to hospital for the appropriate antivenom.
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