Hello Ladies-
My 7 year old received several ant bites on his foot and hand on Sunday while at the park. There doesn't appear to be anything too worrisome when I look at the area. It is swollen and red, but not anymore than I would normally expect. It does seem to be causing quite a bit of discomfort tonight for him before bed. I'm planning to call his doctor in the morning for some suggestions if it isn't any better, but until they open in the morning I was wondering if any of you have any suggestions for tonight?
He has taken Benadryl today as well as some Tylenol before bed. Is there any miracle cure that you ladies know of that will help with the discomfort until the swelling goes away?
Thanks!
K.
Thanks for the advice! He slept through the night so we didn't need anything else for the time being. By morning it was better, but I am definitely going to keep your recommendations in mind for next time.
Thanks again!
Most itching and irritation can be put to rest with a ladies deodorant stick on the bites or rash, or with vagisil cream, especially if you don't have a topical cortizone on hand.
You can try either, both will work.
Hope it goes well,
Mary Poppins
Hello K.! I am actually allergic to ant bites and a long time ago my mom read somewhere that windex can help take the sting out. I have been spraying windex on my ant bites ever since and it really does help the stinging!
There's some wonderful stuff called ChiggRx (pronounced ChiggerRex). It comes in a small white round container, looks like a large prescription bottle shape but it's white w/red letters & red top. A little goes a long way. I've learned, however, rub it in til almost rubbed in completely, don't rub in til dry, leave a little moist (lightly rub in). If you rub til dry, it doesn't seem to help the itch but I've noticed if I leave a little moist, it WORKS! A former co-worker suggested it for me & I've used nothing else since. You can find it at WalMart but I'm sure other stores may carry it. Good luck!
Rub apple cider vinegar on the bites. You can also mix a paste of apple cider vinegar and baking soda and apply to the bites.
baking soda and water paste
Spray Benedryl works great. Also, there are topical pain meds at the pharmacy for sun burn and bug bites....can't think of the name right now of the one we keep on hand but it is a white can with a blue lid.....the hospitals even use it (i learned about it when i had my first child).
Good luck!
We use aloe vera(sp?) for any kind of bite. We have a plant and just break off a piece and smear it on as soon as the bite occurs. My niece was bitten by several fire ants and we put the aloe vera on right after. She said it didn't hurt anymore and there wasn't a single visible mark or bite in the morning. Hope this helps. I hate when they're in pain. Good luck.
We used meat tenderizer, containing papien, in a paste with a little water to help. The reason it works is that papien breaks down protiens, tenderizing meet and neutralizing poisons.
My two year old had multiple ant bites covering his back. We put a paste of baking soda and water immediately after he was bit and it seemed to reduce the itching and swelling. You might try it.
I see that you have already resolved your issue, but I wanted to add one last suggestion. Tea tree oil. Its homeopathic and works great! I use it for fire ant bites and mosquitoes. I am severely allergic to mosquitoes. You can find it at whole foods.
My son is extremely allergic and always getting into ant piles! We have found that the baking soda and water paste works better than any medicine from the drug store or doctor - go figure. Good luck!
Hi K.,
Fish oil capsule, pricked with a pin and a few drops on each bite. Doesn't burn. Heals in no time. Got mine at Walmart, Rexall brand, Flax, Fish oil, Borage combo--cheap.
Takes pain away immediately. Totally Healed in 24hrs. HTH!
I don't know if this is even an option for you, but my dad lives in the country and as kids we were ALWAYS stumbling into fire ants. We discovered that if we took a soak in his swimming pool, it took the sting out of the bites. I'm guessing the chlorine in the water? If you don't have a pool (or access to one) this will be of no help to you, but just in case...
I use olive oil. Something in the olive oil takes out the sting and helps calm the redness and swelling. It works pretty amazing. I get big welts anytime I get bit by a fire ant. If I put olive oil on it, it looks and feels like a normal little bit and within a short time I don't even feel that it is there anymore.
For wasp and bee stings, I use meat tenderizer. I learned this one from my grandmother. The meat tenderizer breaks down the protein in the venom that gets injected with the stinger. My husband is very allergic to bees and will have a whole arm swell up if he gets stung on a finger. The first time I put the meat tenderizer, he was shocked to see that his arm didn't swell at all.
Hope this helps.
Poor thing... I can understand how he feels... I am allergic to ant bites... They swell and get real sore for days... My daughter inherited my "allergic to ants" gene... When she was little she fell into an ant bed... She had bites all over her little thigh and leg... My mother-in-law told me to take her in the house and put her in a CLOROX bath... (just a 1/2 cup of CLOROX and water).... The next day she didnt have any swelling at the bites... They just looked like regular ant bites.... I have since then when bitten by ants applied CLOROX to the bites, and it takes the swelling and pain out of them... Hope this helps!!!
I know you have probably already hit the doctor, but in the future, a mild over-the counter cortizone creme works wonders. It helped my 2 year old who walked over a mound in sandals and got 30 bites on one foot.
