Fire Ant Stings Can Cause Severe Allergic Reactions

Fire Ant Stings Can Cause Severe Allergic Reactions.
For some people, a bite from the ubiquitous light ant can provoke potentially severe reactions, but a renewed study finds that only one-third of people with such allergies get shots that can ease the danger. "Patients are apprehensive of the injections, and often feel that the time investment will never pay off in the long run," said one expert, Dr Robert Glatter, an exigency medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Allergy shots to preserve against fire ant stings are typically given monthly to cater the best protection.

This treatment has been shown to prevent allergy progression and to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic feedback that can be deadly. However, "the time commitment is significant and typically involves monthly injections over a 3- to 5-year period," said Glatter, who was not complex in the new study. So, without considering the potential benefit, the new study found that only 35 percent of patients with fire ant allergies continued to get allergy shots after one year. Inconvenience and second thoughts were among the reasons why they stopped getting the treatment.

The findings were published in the March child of the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "Immunotherapy is proven to be tried and true and efficient at treating allergic diseases," study lead author Dr Shayne Stokes, leader of allergy and immunology at Luke AFB in Arizona, said in a front-page news release from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). "It can also result in constitution care savings of 33 to 41 percent".

Fire ants are common throughout the southeastern United States. People who have had an allergic answer to a fire ant sting in the past have a 60 percent jeopardize of experiencing a similar or more severe reaction if stung again, according to the ACAAI. Symptoms of a fire ant allergy can include: hives, itching and prominence in areas other than the sting site; abdominal cramping, fervid nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing; hoarse expression or swelling of the tongue or throat, or difficulty swallowing; anaphylaxis, which can include dizziness, a sharp oust in blood pressure or cardiac arrest.

So "The reality is that if allergy shots for fire ant stings were utilized more often, patients would have milder reactions if a cheat occurred - and thus a belittle chance or need for a visit to an emergency department. The subsequent risk for anaphylaxis would also be significantly reduced. Overall, the have occasion for for other 'rescue medications' to treat the allergic reactions from the fire ants - including steroids and epinephrine - may potentially be reduced as well".

People who have an allergic resistance should endeavour immediate medical help and follow up with an allergist, the ACAAI said. Glatter said that "patients with asthma, drop apnea, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other chronic lung diseases may be at added chance for airway compromise should a subsequent reaction occur, and should be considered for the allergy shots" best ed pills. Two million Americans are allergic to insect stings, an allergy that sends more than 500000 men and women to infirmary emergency rooms each year.