Natural history of large local and generalized cutaneous reactions to imported fire ant stings in children

Background There are no published data on the natural history of large local and generalized cutaneous reactions to imported fire ant (IFA) stings in children. Objective To determine the natural history of large local and generalized cutaneous reactions to IFA stings in children not treated with immunotherapy by reviewing medical records from a venom clinic during the past 20 years. Methods Patients were selected for the study if they were 16 years or younger at the time of the reaction, had only cutaneous symptoms (generalized cutaneous or large local), and did not initiate immunotherapy. Each patient's parents were asked to recall whether the patient had experienced any further stings since the last evaluation at the venom clinic. Results We contacted 31 of 57 patients evaluated between July 10, 1984, and February 5, 2004. Twenty patients (65%) reported that they had not developed more severe reactions with subsequent stings. Reactions remained cutaneous only. Eleven patients (35%) had not been stung again since the original evaluation. Five of these patients had moved out of the IFA-endemic region. None of the previously evaluated patients reported subsequent life-threatening anaphylaxis from IFA stings. Conclusions These limited data on IFA stings suggest a benign outcome in children 16 years and younger with large local or generalized cutaneous reactions. Larger and more extensive studies need to be conducted to further define the natural history of cutaneous reactions to IFA stings in children.