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PubMed2005

Clinical reactivity to insect stings.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Allergy to insect stings remains a hazard worldwide and is the object of updated guidelines on management. This paper reviews the various clinical responses that may occur following an insect sting. RECENT FINDINGS: Although the general population is at slight risk, certain groups are more susceptible, including occasionally stung adult male agricultural workers, hobby honey beekeepers and family members of beekeepers. Individuals with systemic mastocytosis are especially reactive to stings. The body of evidence attesting to the marked beneficial effect that 3-5 years of venom immunotherapy has on the natural history of hymenoptera hypersensitivity is especially evident in children. Case reports indicate other consequences of hymenoptera sting, and these are discussed. SUMMARY: Hypersensitivity to insect stings is common and may be life threatening. Although most occur away from medical facilities, their diagnosis and management are important to a wide spectrum of health care professionals. Most reactions to stings are nonallergic manifestations of the venom's toxic effects, and present as erythema, pain and swelling about the sting site. Fire ants bite with their mandibles and pivot their head, inflicting multiple stings that usually result in a sterile pseudopustule at the site. Hypersensitivity responses to venom range from large local reactions (a late-phase response) to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Venom-specific immunotherapy is highly effective in the modification of subsequent reactions to hymenoptera stings, as is whole body extract for fire ant stings.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Itching caused by insects].

Papular urticaria is a cutaneous manifestation caused by the sensitization to salivary antigens inoculated in insect bites. It is mainly seen in children. Clinical, aetiological, epidemiological, histophatological and immunological features are considered, as well as prevention and treatment aspects.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Personal protection measures against fire ant attacks.

BACKGROUND: Fire ant stings lead to significant morbidity and mortality each year. Virtually no information exists in the scientific literature about the effectiveness of personal protection measures against these ants. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the level of protection from ant stings by socks and cotton tights and to evaluate the efficacy of repellents and other chemicals in preventing stings. METHODS: Commercially obtained infant socks were fitted on a plastic doll's foot, which was touched to fire ant mounds in a series of controlled experiments. Socks and cotton tights were stretched over a human finger and placed in a fire ant mound to test the ability of ants to sting through fabric. Assays were developed to screen chemical substances for their ability to stop or prevent fire ant stings. RESULTS: Socks of any type reduced the number of fire ants that reached the skin and delayed the time required for ants to reach the skin above the sock level. Fire ants were unable to sting through all socks tested. Ants successfully stung both paper towels and human skin, regardless of chemical substance or repellent applied to them. CONCLUSIONS: Socks provide some degree of protection from fire ant stings; therefore, children living in fire ant-infested areas should wear them. Fire ants appear unable to sting through many commercially available socks. Cotton tights may be useful in protecting the lower extremities of children. Fire ants are not deterred from stinging by a wide variety of insect repellents and chemical substances.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Dermatofibromas and arthropod bites: is there any evidence to link the two?

30 patients with dermatofibromas were questioned closely about contacts with stinging or blood-sucking arthropods before the development of their lesions. Their responses were not significantly different from those of a matched control group. 100 dermatofibromas were examined by dissection, histology, and after acid digestion of the collagenous material; no traces of arthropod skeletal tissues were found. These data are not consistent with the theory that the mechanical presence of arthropod tissues is necessarily, or even usually, a cause of dermatofibromas.

Animals↗