deShazo R D, Williams D F, Moak E S
Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216, USA.
Ann Intern Med. 1999 Sep 21;131(6):424-9. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-131-6-199909210-00005.
Imported fire ants now infest more than 310 million acres in the United States and Puerto Rico. Colonies have been found in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Virginia. Available reports suggest that each year, fire ants sting more than 50% of persons in endemic areas, resulting in a variety of medical consequences.
To describe fire ant attacks among patients in health care facilities.
Case series and literature review.
Two nursing homes in Mississippi.
Two nursing home residents.
Clinical records to describe clinical sequelae of multiple stings.
With the 2 incidents reported here, the total number of reported indoor fire ant attacks on humans since 1989 is 10. Six of the persons attacked, including the 2 nursing home residents described here (who died after the stings), had preexisting neurologic impairment. Eight of the 10 attacks have been reported in the past 4 years.
The presence of fire ants in occupied dwellings indicates the presence of active fire ant colonies in the immediate proximity. Efforts to eradicate these insects should be undertaken immediately, especially if immobile persons are present. These persons should be considered at risk for fire ant attacks as long as the ants are present.
入侵红火蚁目前在美国和波多黎各已侵扰超过3.1亿英亩土地。在亚利桑那州、加利福尼亚州、新墨西哥州和弗吉尼亚州均已发现蚁群。现有报告表明，每年在疫区超过50%的人会被红火蚁叮咬，从而导致各种医学后果。
描述医疗机构中患者遭受红火蚁攻击的情况。
病例系列研究及文献综述。
密西西比州的两家疗养院。
两名疗养院居民。
描述多次叮咬临床后遗症的临床记录。
结合此处报告的2起事件，自1989年以来报告的室内红火蚁对人类的攻击总数为10起。其中6名被攻击的人，包括此处描述的两名疗养院居民（在被叮咬后死亡），先前存在神经功能损害。在过去4年中报告了10起攻击事件中的8起。
有人居住的住宅中出现红火蚁表明附近存在活跃的红火蚁蚁群。应立即采取措施消灭这些昆虫，尤其是在有行动不便者的情况下。只要红火蚁存在，这些人就应被视为有遭受红火蚁攻击的风险。
