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Burning pain caused by three-compartment ants but mistaken for Zona, the doctor clearly shows how to distinguish

The patient had a burning pain, a red rash and was diagnosed with shingles, but after applying and taking the drug, the child’s condition did not improve.

Baby LVL (2017, in Ha Nam) had skin lesions 3 days before coming to the National Children’s Hospital for examination. Initially, the child appeared a few red patches scattered on the face, then lesions appeared in many other skin areas such as the neck, ears, genital skin, accompanied by burning pain.

The family took the child to a local medical examination, diagnosed the child with shingles, and was prescribed topical and oral medication. However, the damage did not improve, but spread to more areas of the skin. L.’s father said that the family has 2 more children with the same disease. Doctors of the National Children’s Hospital assessed that the skin manifestation of baby L. was contact dermatitis caused by insects or another name “contact dermatitis caused by three-cavity ants”.

Some characteristics of three-chambered ants

This insect has a long, slender body like a grain of rice, has two colors of red-orange and black, forming alternating red-orange and black cavities, the shape is like an ant, so it is called a three-chambered ant, or some names. Other names in folklore: strabismus ant, double chin ant, ass arched ant… This type of ant often lives in rice fields, orchards, rotted grass, landfills, construction sites, they appear a lot in the rainy and humid seasons. , they are very fond of night lights, especially high voltage bulbs.

Burning pain caused by three-cavity ants but mistaken for Zona, the doctor shows how to distinguish
Baby L was burned by three-chamber ants.

The three-cavity ants cause disease to humans through clinging to towels, clothing, bedding, blankets, etc., or they come into direct contact with the skin. The disease usually appears in open areas such as: face, neck, chest, shoulders, nape, limbs, after a few hours of contact with ants. The severity of the disease depends on the time of exposure and the concentration of secretions of the three compartment ants.

Manifestations of three-cavity ants are red, streaked children with a slightly lumpy background, with tiny blisters or pustules on the skin, the center of the lesion is slightly concave yellow-brown, round or oval. The lesion continues to appear despite the absence of ants because the child continues to rub from the diseased skin to the healthy skin, the folds still show the typical picture of “kissing lesion”. ).

Burning pain caused by three-cavity ants but mistaken for Zona, the doctor shows how to distinguish
Kissing injury

Children with itching, burning or pain at the site should be able to cry or touch the lesions to spread. Lesions on a large scale, children may have a mild fever, and swollen lymph nodes nearby.

The three stinging ants are often mistaken for shingles. Shingles is common in children who have had chickenpox, with warning signs such as pain along the nerve in the half of the body, where the skin is about to break out, doctors said. Characteristic lesions are blisters that grow in clusters on one side of the body.

Treatment after detecting contact with three compartment ants

You need to immediately remove the three-chambered ants if detected, do not use bare hands to catch, kill, rub, blow or use gloves and paper to remove them.

Wash the exposed area with soap and water, then use a mild antiseptic such as povidone iodine. Absolutely do not arbitrarily apply homemade products, for example: chewing glutinous rice, green beans, toothpaste or some types of leaves … making the disease worse and superinfected.

According to the doctors, if the injury is mild, just localized red streaks, the initial treatment is good, about 2-3 days the disease will be better. If the damage is severe, widespread, especially around the eyes, or there are signs of superinfection, the child should be taken to a medical facility, preferably a dermatologist.

At the hospital, the child will be tested and diagnosed. In most cases, testing is not necessary except in some special cases. Usually, dermatologists identify characteristic lesions to diagnose the disease

About treatmentchildren are prescribed medication and monitored at home:

Topical drugs, depending on the severity of the disease and the stage of the disease, the doctor will prescribe the drug as well as the appropriate dosage form: Liquid or cream containing corticosteroids, antibiotics or a combination of both. Systemic drugs: relieve itching, relieve pain, or antibiotics when there are signs of superinfection

A very small number of children need to be hospitalized, only when the lesions spread to a large area, affecting the function of natural niches, many superinfections accompanied by fever…

How to prevent contact dermatitis caused by ants

– Identify the type of three-chambered ant insect to avoid contact, or know the initial treatment

– Prevent three-cavity ants from flying into the house (limit opening doors a lot, especially houses near fields, lots of trees, near high-voltage light bulbs)

– Avoid standing under bright lights in public places, turn off unnecessary light.

– Clothes and towels must be shaken vigorously before use, children’s clothes must not be turned upside down to expose their faces to skin.

– Do not use bare hands to catch and kill three-chambered ants. Wash immediately with clean water and soap or dilute salt water when you feel itchiness in an area of ​​​​the skin.

Caring for children with contact dermatitis caused by ants

Children are still bathed every day, avoiding rubbing from the injury to the healthy skin of the child or the caregiver’s skin. Children should wear long, thin, absorbent and cool clothes. The child’s diet is normal, not abstaining from any foods. If the injury is extensive and widespread, the child should be absent from school to control the disease and avoid infecting other children.

Ngoc Trang

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