Approaches to the treatment of scorpion envenoming

Freire-Maia, L.; Campos, José Aloísio de; Amaral, Carlos Faria Santos

doi:10.1016/0041-0101(94)90382-4

Cited by 154 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…severe envenoming (Krifi et al, 1998;Wax, 2002;Gibly et al, 1999;Ismail, 1994;Freire-Maia et al, 1994). The effects of scorpions in Australia differed significantly between families, with the more severe and longer duration of effects occurring with buthids (mainly Lychas spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…and Leiurus spp. (Krifi et al, 1998;Wax, 2002;Gibly et al, 1999;Ismail, 1994;Freire-Maia et al, 1994). Lychas spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, 20% of the cases were in children who had only minor effects, which again contrasts with most other parts of the world where there is significant paediatric morbidity and mortality (Krifi et al, 1998;Freire-Maia et al, 1994;Ismail, 1994). In US, a country with a similar standard of health care to Australia, scorpion sting is also not a major problem, although in southwest there are large numbers of cases (Wax, 2002;Gibly et al, 1999;LoVecchio et al, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In US, a country with a similar standard of health care to Australia, scorpion sting is also not a major problem, although in southwest there are large numbers of cases (Wax, 2002;Gibly et al, 1999;LoVecchio et al, 1999). Although the morbidity and mortality, particularly in paediatric patients are worse than Australia, they are not as severe as other parts of the world (Krifi et al, 1998;Ismail, 1994;Freire-Maia et al, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scorpions can be locally abundant in Australia, but human contact with these creatures is rare (Southcott, 1976), and is the likely reason that effects of Australian scorpions are not well characterised. Outside of Australia, scorpions are a considerable public health problem affecting large numbers of humans www.elsevier.com/locate/toxicon each year (Bergman, 1997;Freire-Maia et al, 1994;Ismail, 1994;Groshong, 1993;Ghalim et al, 2000;Abroug et al, 1999;Dehesa-Davila and Possani, 1994). Medically significant scorpion stings are almost universally characterised by intense local pain, usually without local tissue injury.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Australian scorpion stings: a prospective study of definite stings

Isbister

Volschenk

Balit

et al. 2003

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There is little information on scorpion stings in Australia. The aim of this study is to describe the circumstances and clinical effects of stings by Australian scorpions. Cases of scorpion stings were collected prospectively from calls and presentations to Australian poison information centres and emergency departments from February 2000 to April 2002. Only definite scorpion stings where the scorpion was immediately collected and expertly identified were included. There were 95 patients, 33 males and 62 females, with a mean age of 32 (SD 19.5; range 1 -71) and 23 children (age , 15 years). Three families of scorpions caused all stings: Buthidae (79), Bothruiridae (11, all Cercophonius spp.) and Urodacidae (five, all Urodacus spp.). The majority of stings (76%) were by one genus of scorpion Lychas spp. Seventy one percent of stings occurred between 6pm and 8am and 82 (86%) occurred indoors. Sixty percent of stings occurred on distal limbs. The median duration of effects was 6 h (interquartile range (IQR): 1 -24 h). Immediate localised pain occurred in all cases and was severe in 76 cases (80%). Other local effects included red mark/redness (66%), tenderness (35%), numbness (12%) and paraesthesia (11%). Minor systemic effects (nausea, headache and malaise) occurred in 11% of cases. There were no deaths or major systemic envenoming. Less severe effects were observed for the larger Urodacus species, compared to Lychas spp. Scorpion stings in Australia do not appear to cause severe or life-threatening effects, even in children. This differs from other parts of the world, where severe envenoming is reported. The major clinical effect is severe pain, consistent with other scorpion stings. Most stings occurred indoors and at night. q

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