Can fire ants kill people?
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A reader e-mailed in this question:
"i know fireants are dangerous but can they actually kill you?"
Yes, but generally only if you are allergic. There have been specific cases of people dying from shock after being bitten a number of times and having allergies. In the wild fire ants often kill helpless or injured animals. Baby animals that cannot move quickly are easy prey for them, as they will attack them and sting them mercilessly. You'll know you have allergies if you've been bitten if you start vomiting, get dizzy, break out into hivs, or have trouble breathing. If so, you should go to the doctor. It can take up to an hour to see any symptoms. Actual death is very rare, but if the person bitten is elderly or very young they are more at risk. You should be careful with small children as well, as they may not know or be able to move if they end up near a nest, and that will increase the risk of serious injury.
Have a question about fire ants? E-mail us here and we will do our best to answer it.
Sources and Useful Links:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=2143091&page=1
http://agnews.tamu.edu/fireants/stories/allergy.htm
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfireant.html
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