They Let Our Baby Die From Ant Bites!

Hello.

Did you know ants have venomous bites and stings? 

Most ants are omnivores. Ants usually do hunting, scavenging or cannibalism.

A two year old girl passed away after she was bitten by fire ants. The family is suing a hospital claiming that they were negligent in treating her.

The parents “looked on helplessly” as their daughter perished at Georgia hospital after being bitten by ants, according to a lawsuit the family has filed over the girl’s death.

According to a complaint filed on April 4 in Gwinnett County, Bethelhem Getu Hundie and Getahun Birhanu, the parents of Maya Getahun, a local emergency room lacked the proper equipment to intubate their daughter who was in the midst of allergic reaction.

The family’s complaint said Maya’s parents brought her to the emergency department at Piedmont Eastside Medical Center in Snellville, Georgia, on Oct. 7, 2024 after Maya was bitten by ants and developed an allergic reaction. The family said the child was “wheezing” and had “labored breathing,” and that although medical staff did realize the child was experiencing an allergic reaction, they waited over 20 minutes before administering epinephrine.

The complaint noted that “Maya had a blood oxygen saturation of 97%” when the decision to intubate was made.

The parents allege that the doctor who tried to intubate Maya found that the ER did not have the right size equipment necessary for a young child — and that this realization came too late.

“As the [rapid sequence intubation] drugs paralyzed Maya, Dr. Salazar discovered that the Hospital lacked the equipment needed to complete the pediatric intubation,” said the complaint.

As a result, the complaint said, “Maya’s parents looked on helplessly as their daughter slowly died from lack of oxygen.”

The plaintiffs argue that stocking a hospital with appropriate equipment, “particularly for a pediatric intubation,” is part of any emergency department’s ordinary duty of care.

Maya’s parents bring claims for negligence, wrongful death, and punitive damages in an unspecified amount over $10,000 against the hospital and the doctor.

This beautiful young girl died from ant bites.

Attorney Lloyd Bell, who represents the family, said in a statement to Law&Crime that the medical professionals at the hospital “failed them at every turn.”

“This lawsuit is about holding the hospital accountable and getting justice for Maya and her family,” Bell said. “By shining a light on these horrible events, the family hopes Piedmont will change their policies and procedures to ensure this doesn’t happen to another child.”

Fire ants are several species of ants in the genus Solenopsis, which includes over 200 species. Solenopsis are stinging ants, and most of their common names reflect this, for example, ginger ants and tropical fire ants. Many of the names shared by this genus are often used interchangeably to refer to other species of ant, such as the term red ant, mostly because of their similar coloration despite not being in the genus Solenopsis. Both Myrmica rubra and Pogonomyrmex barbatus are common examples of non-Solenopsis ants being termed red ants.

The venom of fire ants is mainly (>95%) composed of oily alkaloids structurally derived from piperidine (also known as solenopsins) mixed with a small amount of toxic proteins. Fire ant stings are painful, characterised by a local burning sensation, followed by urticaria. The sting site typically swells into a bump within hours, which can cause further pain and irritation, especially following several stings at the same place. The bump may develop into a white pustule within 24–36 hours which can become infected if scratched, but will spontaneously flatten within a few days if left alone. The pustules are obtrusive and uncomfortable while active and, if they become infected, may cause scarring. Some people may become allergic to the venom, and if untreated, may become increasingly sensitive to the point of experiencing anaphylaxis following fire ant stings, which requires emergency treatment. Management of an emergency visit due to anaphylaxis is recommended with the use of adrenaline. It has been demonstrated that, whilst pustule formation results from the injected venom alkaloids, allergy to fire ant stings is caused solely by venom allergenic proteins.

First aid for fire ant stings includes external treatments and oral medicines. There are also many home remedies of varying efficacy, including immediate application of a solution of half bleach and half water, or aloe vera gel – the latter of which is also often included in over-the-counter creams that also include medically tested and verified treatments. External, topical treatments include the anesthetic benzocaine, the antihistamine diphenhydramine, and the corticosteroid hydrocortisone. Antihistamines or topical corticosteroids may help reduce the itching and will generally benefit local sting reactions. Oral medicine include antihistamines. Severe allergic reactions to fire ant stings, including severe chest pain, nausea, severe sweating, loss of breath, serious swelling, and slurred speech can be fatal if not treated.

First aid for fire ant bites includes external treatments and oral medicine.

External treatments: a topical steroid cream (hydrocortisone), or one containing:

• Aloe vera
• Oral medicines: antihistamines
• Applying zinc oxide or calamine lotion.

To avoid ants, focus on eliminating their food and water sources, sealing entry points, and maintaining a clean environment, both inside and outside your home. 

To avoid ant bites, wear protective clothing like closed-toe shoes, long pants, and gloves when outdoors, especially in areas known for ant infestations. Avoid ant mounds and use insect repellent, and keep your yard and home clean to prevent attracting ants. 

I've said it before and I stand by what I say: "Wild animals are......well you know!"

Interacting with uncontacted people is dangerous. Well, they are.... you know!"

If you want to be a thrill seeker, you might want to get life insurance.