How do I stop the swelling and itching of a fire ant bite? Is a fire ant bite supposed to be swollen? Should I pop the pustule the forms after a fire ant bite? Is my fire ant bite infected? These are all common questions for someone who gets stung by a fire ant? Fire ant stings are painful and itchy - a terrible combination. Fire ant bites are also very prone to infection. In fact, when someone suffers a fire ant sting, it's actually a combination sting and bite. The fire ant uses his mandibles to bite a tiny chunk of skin; he also has a venom that he injects. Learn prevent a fire ant bite from getting infected and what to do after a fire ant sting/bite occurs.
Instructions
1. Apply after bite medication or ammonia to the fire ant sting. In the moments after a fire ant bite/sting, the person will experience feelings of pain and itching. A red or swollen fire ant bite/sting site is also common. To help relieve the pain and itch associated with a fire ant sting, apply After Bite medication. If this is not available, pour ammonia over the fire ant sting and rinse thoroughly with water after about 30-45 seconds.
2. Wash the fire ant sting with antibacterial soap. This will kill the bacteria and lessen the chance of suffering a swollen and infected fire ant bite.
3. Apply betadine (preferred) or hydrogen peroxide to a cotton ball or gauze pad and dab the fire ant bites. This will further disinfect the fire ant sting, thereby preventing infection and swelling that's associated with infection.
4. Apply a thin layer of hydrocortisone cream (not ointment) and rub this into the skin. This will help reduce or eliminate the itch associated with the fire ant sting. The less you itch the fire ant sting, the less swelling and the less the chance of infection.
5. Apply antibiotic ointment to the site of the fire ant sting. This will help kill bacteria and this too will lessen the chances of an infected fire ant sting.
6. Cover the site of the fire ant bite with a Band-Aid. Often, multiple fire ant bites are present because when threatened, fire ants will emit a chemical that tells his fellow fire ants to attack. If this is the case, cover the fire ant bites with a gauze pad or rolled gauze (depending on location.)
7. Apply an ice pack to the fire ant sting for 20-minute periods. It's often to see a swollen fire ant bite. This can occur due to itching, infection or due to an allergic reaction to the ant bite. If this occurs, apply an ice pack for 20 minutes at a time; let the area thaw for 20 minutes, then reapply the ice pack if desired. The ice pack compress can also help if the fire ant bite is itchy.
8. Following steps 2 through 6, wash, dress and bandage the fire ant sting/bite twice a day. This will prevent infection and the swelling that's associated with infection.
9. Do not pop the fire ant bite pustule! Popping the pustule will only cause more swelling and worsen the infection. A small pustule will form at the site of the fire ant stings within a few hours to a few days. Many people wonder, "Should I pop a fire ant bite pustule?" The answer is "No!" Squeezing and trying to pop the fire ant sting pustule will drive the infection deeper into the skin. So do not squeeze the pustule or try to pop it; it will break on its own.
Tags: fire bite, fire sting, fire sting, This will, associated with, pustule will