2021, Number 1
Medically important ants: a systematic review of the global distribution and clinical consequences of their bites and stings
Full text
Language: English
References: 142
Page: 1-24
PDF size: 647.91 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: From the medical point of view, only some ants are of special interest. Due to the diversity of ants and the growing contact with humans, it is necessary to have a better understanding of the factors and problems, which lead to adverse clinical outcomes.Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of published studies on ants and their impact on the medical field to synthesize fragmented knowledge and to inform the current state of this problem.
Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in Medline, EMBASE, SciELO and Google Scholar, with no time threshold. The search strategy was limited to articles published in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Eligible studies were case reports and case series that reported outcomes in humans caused by ant stings. Patient-level and study-level information was extracted.
Results: The literature search yielded 1909 studies; of which 30 case reports and 16 case series reporting a total of 95 cases were included. Of these 48 patients were women (50.5%), and the median age was 36.1 ± 25.5 years old. The most frequently reported complications were severe pain, anaphylaxis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The death of eighteen patients was documented (18.9%). Ants from the genera Solenopsis spp., Myrmecia sp., Paraponera clavata, Pachycondyla sennaarensis, Myrmecia rubra caused most of the accidents.
Conclusions: Severe allergic reactions caused by ants are a rare event, however, mortality can be high. An increase of ant related accidents is expected, a quick diagnosis and treatment is necessary to avoid fatalities.
REFERENCES
Sampson HA, Munoz-Furlong A, Campbell RL, Adkinson NF, Jr., Bock SA, Branum A, et al. Second symposium on the definition and management of anaphylaxis: summary report--Second National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network symposium. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2006;117(2):391-7.
Veraldi S, Lunardon L, Francia C, Persico MC, Barbareschi M. Alopecia caused by the »,» ®,® §,§ , ¹,¹ ²,² ³,³ ß,ß Þ,Þ þ,þ ×,× Ú,Ú ú,ú Û,Û û,û Ù,Ù ù,ù ¨,¨ Ü,Ü ü,ü Ý,Ý ý,ý ¥,¥ ÿ,ÿ ¶,¶ barber ant »,» ®,® §,§ , ¹,¹ ²,² ³,³ ß,ß Þ,Þ þ,þ ×,× Ú,Ú ú,ú Û,Û û,û Ù,Ù ù,ù ¨,¨ Ü,Ü ü,ü Ý,Ý ý,ý ¥,¥ ÿ,ÿ ¶,¶ Pheidole pallidula. Int J Dermatol. 2008;47(12):1329-30.
Haddad Junior V, Cardoso JLC, Moraes RHP. Description of an injury in a human caused by a false tocandira (Dinoponera gigantea, Perty, 1833) with a revision on folkloric, pharmacological and clinical aspects of the giant ants of the genera Paraponera and Dinoponera (sub-family Ponerinae). Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2005;47:235-8.
Haddad Junior V, Cardoso JLC, Moraes RHP. Description of an injury in a human caused by a false tocandira (Dinoponera gigantea, perty, 1833) with a revision on folkloric, pharmacological and clinical aspects of the giant ants of the genera Paraponera and Dinoponera (sub-family Ponerinae). Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2005;47(4):235-8.
Dietrich JJ, Moore LM, Nguyen S, Hagan LL, Tankersley MS. Imported fire ant hypersensitivity: a 1-day rush immunotherapy schedule without premedication. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & amp; Immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & amp; Immunology. 2009;103(6):535-6.