Most ants are harmless, but fire ants can sting. When these venomous ants sting your skin, you can get fire ant bites. Each ant can sting more than once. They often look like a circle of bites.
People experience different symptoms of a fire ant bite, including burning, itching, blisters, or swelling of the foot or arm. Most of the time, you can treat mild fire ant bites at home. They’ll heal on their own. But you’ll need medical care if the bite becomes infected or if you have a serious allergic reaction.
Understand Fire Ant Bites and Stings
Fire ants live in tunnels beneath a mound of dirt. If you accidentally step on or disturb the mound, fire ants will climb up and attack.
When a fire ant bites, its jaws clamp down on your skin. Then, it injects venom through a stinger on its tail end. “Although it’s called a fire ant bite, it’s actually the sting that causes the symptoms,” says Camellia Hernandez, MD, the clinical director of allergy and immunology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Fire ants can sting multiple times. They swing their bodies around to make a circle or semicircle of bites. If you see a fire ant, slap it or brush it off your skin before it can sting again.
What Are the Symptoms of a Fire Ant Bite?
Fire ant bite symptoms show up in stages:
Right after the sting. You feel sharp, burning pain.
Within an hour. Red bumps with a raised white center begin to form.
By the next day. The bumps turn into blisters filled with pus-like fluid, says Cheyenne Falat, MD, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. They usually itch a lot.
Over the next week. The blisters burst and dry up. “In general, it takes about 7-10 days for bites to heal on their own,” Hernandez says.
Some people have larger reactions to the sting. For example, one on your foot might cause your whole foot to swell.
Are You Having an Allergic Reaction to Fire Ant Bites?
In rare cases, people may have an allergic reaction to a fire ant bite, which can even be life-threatening. Symptoms include:
These symptoms usually occur within 10-30 minutes of a fire ant bite, Hernandez says. If you have any of them, call 911 and go to an emergency room right away. If you have an epinephrine shot, use it, and repeat after 5-15 minutes if your symptoms haven’t improved. You’ll still need medical care right after you give yourself the shots to prevent a delayed reaction, even if your symptoms seem to stop.
Once you have an allergic reaction to a fire ant sting, you have a 60% chance of having a similar or worse reaction if you’re stung again. Ask your doctor if allergy shots would help and if you should carry an epinephrine shot. If your doctor prescribes one, carry two injections with you.
Fire Ant Bite Treatment: What’s The Fastest Way to Heal?
Fire ant bites start to heal after two days, but it takes about 7-10 days, says Deepa Iyengar, MD, a professor of family and community medicine at UTHealth Houston. You can’t speed up the process. But there are things you can do to ease your symptoms, prevent complications, and feel better.
How to treat fire ant bites naturally:
- Wash the bites and surrounding skin with soap and cold water to prevent infection.
- Aloe vera, calamine lotion, or a baking soda paste may also soothe the itchiness.
- Use ice packs or cold compresses off and on (15 minutes on, 15 minutes off) to ease the pain and swelling. Don’t put ice directly on your skin, and don’t use heat.
- Raise the part of your body where you got stung to reduce swelling.
- Don’t squeeze or pop the blisters. Doing so can lead to infections or scars.
What’s the Best Remedy for Fire Ant Bites?
Certain medicines can help you feel better while you heal. If you have mild fire ant bites, an over-the-counter oral antihistamine can ease the swelling and itchiness. You can also apply a hydrocortisone cream twice a day for the rash and itchiness.
If the blisters break, wash them with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
If you have a more serious reaction to a fire ant bite, you may need a prescription for oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone, or steroid cream. Antibiotics can treat any infected blisters or wounds from the fire ant bites.
Severe allergic reactions require emergency medical care. You may need an epinephrine shot, IV antihistamines, or even oxygen.
How Do You Avoid Fire Ant Bites?
These steps can help you avoid painful bites:
- Stay away from fire ant nests. Pay attention to where you step. Watch out for mounds, which are often found on the edges of sidewalks or roads. If you do accidentally step on or disturb a mound, move away quickly.
- Hire a trained professional (exterminator) to check for and get rid of fire ant nests around your home.
- Wear closed-toe shoes and socks when you walk outside.
- Wear gloves while you garden.
- If fire ants get on you, remove them with a fast brushing motion. Don’t try to shake or rinse them away.
- Quickly take off your shoes, socks, or other clothes where the ants are biting. Shake them out and carefully check for ants before putting them back on.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If you have any symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, call 911 and go to an emergency room immediately. A severe fire ant bite allergic reaction can become life-threatening quickly.
You should also see your doctor if any of your blisters show signs of infection, Hernandez says. These include:
- Growing redness or red streaks
- Fever, chills, body aches, and other flu-like symptoms
- Pain or itchiness that gets worse after a few days
“If your pimple all of a sudden becomes the size of a golf ball, see your doctor right away,” Hernandez says.
Takeaways
Fire ant bites are painful, but there are steps you can take to ease the swelling and itchiness. Most bites will heal on their own in about a week. It’s important to know the symptoms of more serious reactions. Although it’s rare, an allergic reaction to fire ant venom may become dangerous and even life-threatening.
Fire Ant Bites FAQ
How do you know if a fire ant bites you?
You’ll feel pain and a burning sensation right away. Then, you’ll develop a red bump that turns into a blister.
How do you draw out fire ant venom?
You can’t remove fire ant venom. If you see a fire ant on your skin, slap it or brush it off to avoid any extra stings.
What is the best ointment for fire ant bites?
You can use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment to reduce the itching. If the blisters burst, wash the area and apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
How long does fire ant venom last?
Your body will break down and remove the venom on its own within a few days. Fire ant bites will take roughly a week to heal.
