Incidence of Stings or Bites of the Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Other Arthropods Among Patients at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, USA

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Abstract
Medical treatment for arthropod sting/bite attacks was requested at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, USA, by 329 persons during the period 1 April to 30 September 1979. A total of 370 visits, including 7 days hospitalization for 5 patients, was recorded for these patients. The red imported fire ant (RIFA) was responsible for 49% of the outpatient visits and 5 days of hospitalization. Attacks by unidentified arthropods were responsible for 26% of the visits. The remainder of the cases (ranging from 1 to 5% each) were attributed to wasps, bees, spiders, mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers and fleas. The predominant age category of military personnel, 18–44 years, accounted for 78% of the patients. Eight persons (5%) stung by RIFA exhibited symptoms of shock, and 11 (7%) developed secondary infections, most requiring multiple visits for treatment. Nine symptoms were identified for 278 patients, with edema (82%), urticaria (43%) and respiratory distress (5%) predominating. Other symptoms, which included nausea, vomiting, dizziness, numbness and blurred vision, occurred predominantly in patients under 25 years of age. Cost of treatment, based on data supplied by the Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Army, is discussed.

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