Ant allergy in Benha District Qualyobia Governorate, Egypt.

Individuals from the suburb of Benha City and some adjacent villages were presented with various degrees of skin allergy. In addition, chiildren who spend the night (sleep) on the floor suffered generalized lymphadenopathy, with or without fever. The patients were successfully treated with carbolic acid (1:25). Besides, oral anti-histamine (H1) and systemic antibiotics were indicated in the complicated cases. In the concrete houses of the patients, a huge number of the large ants (mainly Catagliphus bicolar) were found moving here and there, particularly in animal house included indoors. Spreading or burning dried leaves of camphor tree proved to an effective repellent for the ants. Discussion focused on the medical importance of ants.