what can i do for my 1 year old son who has fire ant bites on his left leg
Thanks everyone for your advice everyone!! His bites are almost gone..
There is a children's benadryl topical itch relief. I use this on mosquito bites for my 20 month old.
My mother who is an RN says cortizone is to potent to use on a toddler.
My son has a mild allergy to ants and his doctor told me to get Benedryl cream and Hydrocortizone cream and mix it together and apply to his bites. I would also give him a little childrens benedryl as well. Good luck!
If you're nursing, put breastmilk on the bites.
Roll-on antiperspirant-deodorant...works fantastic on mosquito bites, too.
Sting Stop from Whole Foods. It's all natural and amazing!
witch hazel. easy to find, very inexpensive ---it works!
You can take the inside of the skin of a ripe banana and rub the skin (the inside) on the bite. I don't know why or how it works, but it does!
It's not a quick fix, but there is a product out there made by a company called Melaleuca. The product is there Melaleuca oil. It immediately removes the burning sensation and almost always prevents the bites from swelling and getting the pus in them.
In order to buy Melaleuca products, you have to become a member. You can only join through someone who is already a member. If you would like to join and check out their products, I can sign you up. I get no benefit from signing you up as I am a direct customer of theirs. Just trying to help out as I know how painful fire ant bites can be. I have a home daycare and use it on all my daycare kids. It works wonders.
Mary:
I recomend a BODY BALM, this product is excellent because it provides instant relief for insect bites, if you are interested for more information, please, visit the web page: www.julissabenitez.swissjust-usa.com
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I googled "fire ant bite home remedy" - top hit was
I will say, tea tree oil is what seems to work for my kids. It helps alleviate the stinging/burning sensation. If they won't leave the bite alone b/c it itches, then we use a little bit of steroid cream.
HTH
K., mama to
Catherine, Samuel and Baby (due soon)
dump a box of baking soda in th3e tub and bathe
Hi M.,
By accident I learned to use a fish oil capsule which worked like a charm. I got stung all over my legs and even on my eye. The sting on my eye immediately turned into a blister. I pricked a fish oil capsule with a straight pin. then squirted a bit onto a q-tip and touched it to my eyelid. I then dabbed it on all the bites. Within about 10 mins the stinging stopped completely and the blister on my eyelid disappeared. I repeated the fish oil application again before bed. The next day there was no sign of having had any bites. Not even red spots.
Since your son is already stung, I dont know if I would prick the blister if it has made a pimple or just apply the fish oil onto the bites. If it were me, I would prick some of them, but not all, to see which way heals up fastest. The fish oil does NOT burn in the least even in an open sore. HTH
ps. I did not use any other treatment. Also works on mosquito bites.
Living in south Georgia, I swear the entire ground is just a cavern of fire ants so I know of what I speak, lol!
Apple cider vinegar. If it's a few bites, just dab it on with a cotton ball - it will take away the sting/itch, help with healing and infection. If he has numerous bites. Put him in a warm bath with about a cup of apple cider vinegar added. My son fell into a fire ant pile one day and this did the trick. Another thing that works is a salt water bath. Again about 1 cup of salt to a warm bath. This alleviates the stinging, but not sure about infection. Originally from south Florida, anytime I had a cut or bite, the first thing we would do is jump in the ocean - it heals all!
Try bleach, toothpaste or listerine. My husband uses bleach.
M.,
I would first wash his leg with warm soapy water, then apply Neosporin ointment on the bites, then apply a warm MOIST pack to his leg. Warmth pulls infection to the surface of the skin and keeps it from getting into his blood stream and traveling. Keep applying Neosporin every few hours and continue with the warm MOIST packs for a couple of days. CALL HIS PEDIATRICIANS OFFICE and ask what else you should do! The bites may be painful and itchy, and the doctor can tell you what you can do to help with that. WATCH HIS LEG CAREFULLY FOR SWELLING AND REDNESS. IF the bites get bigger in size or become red take him to the ER if his pediatrician is not available! Many children are allergic to fire ants and an infection can easily become systemic which is very dangerous. CHECK HIS TEMPERATURE and if he has ANY AT ALL contact his doctor or just go directly to the emergency room with him!
Olive oil works wonderful. I'm not sure how, but it has qualities in it that soothe and neutralize the venom from the bite. I use it all the time on my sons, and my husband uses it. It helps him and he gets big welts otherwise.
My little girl recently sat in an ant pile and had bites all over her body . We used tea tree oil and caladryl lotion. Worked wonders.
My mom was on a road trip with my brothers fam and she got stung at lest 50-100 times on her feet and legs. The only thing they had with them was desitin...diaper ointment. She immediately put it on and it helped with the itch and gave relief. She swears by it for ant bites now!
There is a lot of great advice already here, and definitely watch out for allergies, but I have used baking soda...it's around our house and it works wonders. Just add a little water to it and make a paste out of it. I tried it myself and on my kids and it REALLY works! No more itching for any of us and it is not harmful if swallowed. Hope he feels better!
neosporin I find, works the best. Especially because of the itching. Not hydrocortisone as much.
This is info I found on a "fire ant" website:
If you have been stung by a fire ant, you should softly wash the skin with a mixture of soap and water - this will get rid of the venom on the surface. If you have rubbing alcohol around, you also should disinfect the area of the bites. After you're done with that, it is a good idea to put some ice in a washcloth and hold it next to the bites for about 15-20 minutes. That will help keep down swelling and make it a little less irritating the next day.
Fire ant stings are also accompanied by intense itching. Victims need to use care and avoid bursting the pustules that form. This could lead to secondary skin infections and make you need antibiotic treatment, so it's very important not to scratch. Taking some Benadryl can help alleviate some of the initial reactions to the stings. If a child has been bitten it can be very difficult to stop them from scratching, but it's also very important.
If you have any kind of allergies to either fire ants or to any other stinging insect (bees, wasps, etc.), it is wise to always call a physician in the event of fire ant sting and, of course, it is an emergency if the victim experiences shortness of breath or dizziness, so call 911 immediately if that happens.
Home Remedies:
Here is a list of various home remedies people have come up with for fire ant bites. The good:
• Ice Cube
• Apply meat tenderizer
• Apply a paste of salt or crushed aspirin.
• Desert Essence ® Tea Tree Oil
• Rub with fresh slice of onion
• Dab with hydrogen peroxide
• Immediately apply aloe gel
• Use Arnica Gel
Sources and Useful Links:
