title: Underrecognition of morbidity from stings of the red imported fire ant in the southeastern United States.
abstract: This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the health-seeking behaviors of a group of patients stung by red imported fire ants (RIFA) and the number of nursing referrals resulting in treatment. The following two research questions were asked: (1) Is there a delay in seeking the care of a board-certified allergist for symptoms of fire ant hypersensitivity? (2) Are nurses referring patients for treatment? The entire population of board-certified allergists in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina (n = 98) was sampled. A questionnaire was developed for the office nurses to use to collect information from allergy patients actually receiving fire ant injections (n = 257). Each patient reported on the reaction, when it occurred as well as age, sex, and county of residence. Descriptive statistics revealed that a delay of a month or more in seeking care of an allergist was experienced by 154 (56%) of patients who completed the questionnaire. The average delay was 1.8 years. The main source of referrals was a general practitioner or emergency room personnel. Nursing and other health professionals must recognize the problem and to institute prompt referral for treatment. In areas where RIFA colonies are spreading, they have to be fully informed and trained in effective primary and secondary techniques to prevent serious reaction to the stings of these ants.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schuman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellamy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000486:Allergy and Immunology; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015144:Southeastern United States; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires