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Underrecognition of Morbidity from Stings of the Red Imported Fire Ant in the Southeastern United States
Author(s) -
Owens V. Jann,
Malioy Catherine,
Schuman Stanley,
Caldwell Sam,
Bellamy Dene
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.1990.tb00617.x
Subject(s) - fire ant , red imported fire ant , poison control , occupational safety and health , geography , medical emergency , environmental health , medicine , biology , hymenoptera , ecology , pathology
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.