An intruder I didn't see coming..

[1s1k52]

Later during the evening a few weeks ago we put our 2 year old daughter down to sleep. Being MY daughter she doesn't go down quietly with something she is forced to do against her will. Her protest are generally pretty cute but still results in me putting her back in bed to go to sleep. This particular evening my wife went into to address some complaining by her. We soon discovered rash, shallow breathing, hives etc. I was called in to take a look and literally witnessed all of the above growing increasingly worse. We rushed her to the hospital were, after removing her one piece fleece footed pajamas, exposed a bite to the doctor. They immediately gave her an Epipen and breathing treatment. The doctor claimed not once, not twice, but THREE times it was a spider. Being bored and hating hospitals I grabbed her PJs and started slowing combing through to discover a single ant in location coordinating with her bite location.

The doctor walked backed in and I just said simply.. "It was an ant..." after being attempted to be argued with TWICE before allowing me to explain and show him it WAS NOT a spider. I held the ant up with my finger.

We had been hoping this was a fluke case since the ant bit her about 8 times or more. Today we took her in for testing and discovered it was far from the case. There is a 5 stage test that she didn't make it past stage 2. Therefor my 2 year old daughter who is in love with the outdoors, unlike my oldest, is deathly allergic to ants. Her reaction was more severe than the allergist had ever seen. Sad thing is my wife got bit by a single ant today prior to leaving the house.

We try and run a tight ship so I know its just a few stranglers coming in to try and survive he cold. We have stayed her 2 years and I don't ever remember seeing ants before the past 2 months indoors.

I am not sure what I can do come summertime really besides lock her in a bubble. Especially since we have been looking at some properties to buy with 10 or less acres.

my vent and rant for the day...

[SewTexas]

oh, the poor baby!!! the good news is that you noticed the symptoms and took them seriously! I have no thoughts on how to avoid ants...that's going to be tough in Texas!

[Keith B]

Hate to hear she has that severe a reaction to the toxins from ants. Hopefully it is one of those allergies that will lessen or go away as she ages.

[1s1k52]

Hate to hear she has that severe a reaction to the toxins from ants. Hopefully it is one of those allergies that will lessen or go away as she ages.

Well we hope so too. I work the miserable job I hate because of insurance. She will need a shot a week for about the next 5 years. Trying to find out today if and how they shots are covered.

[Songbird]

I'm so glad she's ok! I'll be praying the insurance covers those shots. We live in a rural area and have problems with ants. We don't have them inside because we are on a three month rotation with an exterminator. Here is a link to some information about other, less toxic solutions. (I've used instant grits instead of corn meal outside with some success) Best of luck to you!
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/alterna ... ONTROL.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SewTexas]

I've been thinking about your baby all night...the poor thing. And you and mama, too! Poor mom's not going to want to ever put her down outside again, and will want to check every surface!

You're going to want to make friends with you're local Terminex folks. She's not going to be able to go out in bare feet, probably going to have want to avoid sandals, too. and she won't understand for a while why all the trouble.

[PBratton]

Get a fist full of epipens and start treating the yard as best you can. Hopefully she will grow out of it, I hope that it doesn't change her love of the outdoors.

[karder]

I am glad she is ok. I remember being about 4 or 5 years old with my parents going to visit our pastor. He lived on a dirt road (as we all did) and he came out barefoot to greet the car coming up his driveway. While he was talking to my folks, he received 3 ant bites to his foot. We left and shortly afterwards he had an extreme allergic reaction and died. Granted, that was a long time ago and medical care has come a long way, but stories like yours still scare me. Allergies like that are serious business and I am sure glad you all took her straight to the hospital. Thank the Lord she had good care and attentive parents. Our prayers are with you.

[MeMelYup]

Bomb your house. Get an insect bomb/fumigator with Permethrin or other pesticide and do the house. Be sure to follow the instructions on the package. The reason I say Permethrin is we used it in the military and the acid on your skin neutralizes it. If you own your home you might think about having your house treated for termites, that presents a barrier for ants also.

[RPBrown]

I know that there are those that will flame me over this but we have been totally organic at our home (and wifes groom shop) for 10+ years. The only time we have ants in our yard is after a hard rain where the mound has floated in. Even then it doesnt stay around very long.
Put down lots of compost and then spray the yard wit beneficial nematodes (you may have to search around for them). Then treat the yard twice a year with the nematodes for a couple of years. Ants, especially fire ants, dont like soil with a lot of compost and the nematodes eat the ants and their larva. As for the house, get some diotamcious earth (not the kind for swimming pools) and sprinkle all the way around your house. This will help them from coming in. Also use orange oil as a cleaner and it will also kill insects.

There are other things also such as plant oils to spray but this will get you started. We went natural after we sprayed our yard once and the dogs wouldn't go out on it. Then when we had grandkids, I decided that if they were going to be in the yard picking things up and putting in their mouths, then I wanted it to be non-toxic as much as possible.

[1s1k52]

thanks for all the advice but we live in an apartment and after scrubbing, moving things, spraying some things down, airing it out. We set traps and used a lot of corn meal. plus will be contacting the apartments. We are out in less than 3 months which is about the time I suspect they get someone around.

[packa45]

I feel her pain I spent 3 weeks in the hospital when I was about6 years old because I got but about 10 times by nothing more than your average ant... I've been more tolerant of the effects of ant bites over the last 26 years but as part of my daily carry I Must carry an epi pen and Benadryl.ido not leave home without either... 3 years ago I found out that I am also deathly allergic to bee stings and wasp stings. It doesn't stop me from going out however I do take precautions and items to counteract an allergic reaction.

[1s1k52]

I feel her pain I spent 3 weeks in the hospital when I was about6 years old because I got but about 10 times by nothing more than your average ant... I've been more tolerant of the effects of ant bites over the last 26 years but as part of my daily carry I Must carry an epi pen and Benadryl.ido not leave home without either... 3 years ago I found out that I am also deathly allergic to bee stings and wasp stings. It doesn't stop me from going out however I do take precautions and items to counteract an allergic reaction.

we read religiously about just about anything we encounter or get involved in. That was one of the first things we read about. If you are allergic to ants, most likely you are allergic to bees and wasp. Honestly I spend as much time outside as humanly possible and can honestly say I rarely worry about wasp or bees. Ants however in North Texas are obviously a different story. Today we spent all day at the hospital because she fell and hit her head on the corner of an opened dresser drawer. resulting in 5 stitches. I will try to upload pictures later. She will ultimately be the death of me..

[powerboatr]

oh, the poor baby!!! the good news is that you noticed the symptoms and took them seriously! I have no thoughts on how to avoid ants...that's going to be tough in Texas!

good catch.
we have a family member that is also very allergic to the little red ants, he swells up and gets nasty sores. but loves being outside


thank goodness you caught it and your baby is well

[Divided Attention]

Severe allergic reactions are so scary! I have used my "home remedy" for over 20 years, and while it may not stave off the "big" reaction", I had some validation this year when an allergist included it in a kids "emergency action kit" for fire ant stings. The item is unseasoned meat tenderizer. Works great with insect stings (ants sting not bite) The venom is a protein, and meat tenderizer breaks down protein! If applied soon after the sting, it will greatly reduce the venom effect. The action kit for the kiddo included meat tenderizer, oral benadryl, and of course the EpiPen - blue to the sky orange to the thigh!

Good luck with your daughter, hopefully she will respond well to the allergy shots and build up some resistance as she goes! Prayers for you and yours!