Fire ant stings: pathophysiology and natural remedy

Fire Ant Stings: pathophysiology & natural remedy.

1. Fire ant stings: Pathophysiology & natural remedy Kevin KF Ng, MD, PhD Former Associate Professor of Medicine Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Miami, Florida

2. Discovery of Pulmonary Angiotensin Converting Enzyme and its Inhibitor in venom of Bothrops Jararaca

3. Mobile, AL

4. Statistics according to American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology 500,000 of Americans go to Emergency Room each year. More than 40 people die from sting anaphylaxis annually. Fire Ant may be the number one agent of inset stings. Fire Ants cost Americans $6 billion a year including insecticides. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/insects/ http://www.extension.org/pages/14345/fire-ant-control:-the-two-step-method-and-other-approaches#.VOk8di58z30 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/georgia-woman-dies-fire-ant-sting/story?id=19706086

5. Problems: Pain , Itch, infection Dr. Blake Layton, Extension Entomology Specialist Department of Entomology, Mississippi State University http://msucares.com/insects/fireants/sting.html Natural history of fire ant sting from contact to resolution

6. 1% Systemic Reactions 99% Local Reactions Skin

7. Composition & Actions of Fire Ant Venom 95%: Solenopsin A Angiogenesis inhibitor neuronal NO synthase inhibitor Cytotoxic (muscles, nerves, blood cells) Insecticidal Antimicrobial (fungus, bacteria, virus) 5%: Allergenic proteins (46) Phospholipase A Phospholipase A inhibitor Cytotoxic (muscles, nerves) Growth factor Thioredoxin peroxidase

8. What is a Mediator and a Receptor ?

9. Stings Inflammation Pus & Itch Local Reactions to Fire Ant Stings Pain, Swelling, Redness ,Warmth,

10. Treatment of Fire Ant Stings Inflammation & Itch Home remedies Ice Vinegar Ammonia Sodium bicarbonate Aloe vera gel Over-the-counter products Antihistamines (2% Benadry max strength) Corticosteroids (1% Cortaid max strength) Local anesthetics (20% Benzocaine max st) Local analgesics (10% Trolamine salicylate) Calamine lotion (8% zinc oxide)

11. Disadvantages of Current Topical Renedies Low concentration of active ingredients. Water-based formulations. Inefficient and slow absorption. Actions limited to 2 out of 14 mediators. Many mediators act unopposed. Therefore treatment is incomplete.

12. Inflammatory Mediators and Current Inhibitors

13. Sources of Phytochemicals in flowers, fruits, vegetables, leaves, barks & roots

14. Extraction of Phytochemicals Botanical Products (Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, Barks, Roots in carrier medium). Homogenizer Centrifuge Separation of Supernatant from Residue Tests on Subjects

15. Effects of Phytochemicals on Inflammatory Mediators

16. Effects of Phytochemicals on Inflammatory Mediators

17. Effect of Phytochemicals on Fire Ant Stings Untreated for 36 hours Treated for 36 hours

18. Hypersensitivity Reactions (anaphylaxis) to Fire Ant Stings Systemic response:1% Urticaria Angioedema Pruritis Bronchoconstriction Hypotension Organ failure Death “Cytokine Storm” Hospital

19. Experimental treatment of Cytokine Storm Corticosteroids TNF-alpha blockers ACE inhibitors and ARB Gemfibrosil OX 40 immunoglobulin Antioxidants Renin angiotensin system Renin angiotensinogen Angiotensin I Converting enzyme Angiotensin II

20. CONCLUSIONS The pathophysiology of acute inflammation has outpaced the treatment of fire ant stings. The conventional topical treatment of fire ant stings needs to be updated in accordance with new scientific knowledge. The abundance of phytochemicals in nature that targets multiple mediators of inflammation opens up new frontiers for the treatment of fire ant stings. The phytochemicals are inexpensive, safe, effective and free from unwanted side effects.