Penile ant bites in Children
As a librarian, I enjoyed reading “Current Contents” of ISI. Not exactly the TOC of several journals – the main part -- but the first few pages, usually consisting of some interesting abstracts of articles and Eugene Garfield’s lead story. I remember once there was an interesting observation that penile ant bites are more in children than in adults. I used to wonder: these Americans will do research on any damn topic, leaving nothing untuned!
Ant bites in softer muscle regions like lips, male organs, foreskin area etc are more common than in hardened sites like palms or feet. But extremities like hands and legs are preferred by ants for no specific reason except that they are easily reachable. Leaving food stuff in beds, work desks or near chairs motivate ants to raid from far off hideouts.
A child who has a penile area bite suffers shock, trauma and anxiety at the first attack. Something strange has happened. It is gruesome to look at. Can not show it to others to get help or sympathy. Usually, parents notice the discomfiture and give first aid (perhaps last too) by smearing talcum powder more as a placebo than as anything else. The swelling will subside on its own, so also the pain. But the child needs to be pampered and attended to.
It is a totally different issue if a male adult is involved. The inducing factor could be that he has diabetes and ants love any sugary secretion. The sting, stigma and strain could be unmanageable though for just thirty minutes or so. You will not get enough time to refer to Google Doctor for advice. Only comforting thought about this unpleasant / awkward situation is that women will not suffer from this.
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