Ant sting mortality in Australia.
Toxicon
; 40(8): 1095-100, 2002 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12165310
ABSTRACT
We investigated ant sting related fatalities in Australia over the period 1980-1999. Data was obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and state coronial authorities. Six ant sting-related fatalities were identified, five in Tasmania and one in New South Wales. All were males aged between 40 and 80-years-of-age and most (5/6) had prior histories of jumper or bull ant (Myrmecia spp.) venom allergy. However, none of the deceased carried injectable adrenaline and most died within 20 min of a single sting. Significant cardiopulmonary co-morbidities were identified in all cases and, in addition, moderate-severe laryngeal oedema and coronary atherosclerosis was observed in most (4/6) cases at autopsy. Where ascertained, Myrmecia ant venom specific immunoglobulin E antibodies levels were always elevated and fell into two distinct patterns of immunoreactivity. Adult Tasmanian males with a prior history of ant venom allergy and cardiopulmonary co-morbidities are therefore at highest risk of a fatal outcome from ant stings. Deaths may be avoided by the early recognition of anaphylaxis and self-treatment with adrenaline as well as by the development of purified Myrmecia ant venom immunotherapy.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Hormigas
/
Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Animals
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Región como asunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Toxicon
Año:
2002
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia