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Scorpion Stings
Published in Charles Theisler, Adjuvant Medical Care, 2023
Scorpion stings present with immediate pain, numbness, and burning around the area of the injection site. Localized redness and edema occur shortly thereafter. Chil-dren are particularly sensitive to scorpion stings. Fortunately for healthy adults, most scorpion stings don't need medical treatment. If a child is stung, however, immediate medical care is necessary. The FDA has approved Anascorp as the first treatment specifically for young children and adults with a severe reaction to the sting of the Cen- truroides scorpion, the most common type in the U.S.
Skin, soft tissue and bone infections
Published in Miriam Orcutt, Clare Shortall, Sarah Walpole, Aula Abbara, Sylvia Garry, Rita Issa, Alimuddin Zumla, Ibrahim Abubakar, Handbook of Refugee Health, 2021
Scorpions are widespread and can be divided into geographical areas where envenomation causes autonomic dysfunction (e.g. Middle East, Africa, South America and North Africa), neuromuscular toxicity (southern Africa, United States of America and Central America) and skin necrosis, renal failure and haemolysis (e.g. Middle East). There are estimated to be 1.2 million stings and more than 3,000 deaths from scorpion stings per year. Fifty of the 1,500 scorpion species are dangerous to humans, with a spectrum of insignificant to lethal stings.
Stings
Published in Gail Miriam Moraru, Jerome Goddard, The Goddard Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance, Seventh Edition, 2019
Gail Miriam Moraru, Jerome Goddard
Scorpion venom is primarily neurotoxic, containing multiple low-molecular-weight basic proteins (the neurotoxins), mucus (5–10%), salts, and various organic compounds, such as oligopeptides, nucleotides, and amino acids.17 It contains few or no enzymes. Scorpion sting reactions may be either localized (and transitory) or systemic. Localized responses are characterized by pain and swelling, similar to that of a wasp or bee sting. In some localized responses, the sting site might develop into an indurated lesion, even from harmless scorpion species.18 These local reactions may persist up to 72 hours and be followed by development of blood blisters at the sting site. Systemic reactions are highly variable and may not necessarily be life-threatening. Symptoms may range from aching, burning, and numbness in various tissues to slurred speech, tightness in the chest, and rapid heartbeat. More severe systemic reactions may include profuse sweating, respiratory problems, and convulsions. Death, when it does occur, is often due to cardiac or respiratory failure.
Evaluation of anti-scorpion (Hottentota tamulus) venom potential of native plants extracts using mice model
Published in Toxin Reviews, 2022
Samima Asad Butt, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir, Shaukat Ali, Muniba Tariq, Ali Hassan, Muhammad Summer, Chand Raza, Shafaat Yar Khan
Scorpion venom contains neurotoxins that can interrupt physiological activities of host by targeting the excitable neurons (Quintero-Hernández et al. 2013, Quintero-Hernández et al. 2013, Ding et al. 2014, Zhao et al. 2016, Al-Asmari et al.2017). Some scorpion venom peptides block the potassium channels resulting in a prolonged action potential while other peptides cause the delay in inactivation of voltage gated sodium channel (Strong et al.2001, Bosmans and Tytgat 2007). Most scorpion stings cause severe pain which runs from the site of sting to other parts of body, leading toward the rise in blood pressure, mild sweating, transient bradycardia and warm extremities (Chippaux 2012, Ahmadi et al.2020). Other symptoms include vomiting, salivation, pulmonary edema, several neurological manifestations, hemodynamics and abnormal electrocardiography (Bawaskar and Bawaskar, 2012). Harmful effects of venom on myocardium and adrenal secretions of catecholamine have also been reported (Agrawal et al. 2015, Ahmadi et al.2020).
Comment on epidemiology of scorpionism in France: nationwide scorpion exposure. Description of Buthus pyrenaeus envenoming
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2022
Jules-Antoine Vaucel, Cédric Gil-Jardine, Magali Labadie, Sébastien Larréché, Camille Paradis, Audrey Nardon, Arnaud Courtois, Jérôme Langrand, Hatem Kallel
Estimated the number of scorpion stings based only on the cases scorpion stings reported to the French poison control center results in significant underestimation [2]. Indeed, in France mainland and overseas territories, scorpion stings are not perceived as dangerous [2,5]. This may partially explain the limited number of emergency consultations and cases reported to the French poison control center. However, the most severe cases were likely included because, in France, health professionals are legally obligated to declare: cases of death, life-threatening cases, cases presenting with a temporary or permanent incapacity, and cases requiring more than 24 h of hospitalization (French Public Health Code, Article R1340-10). The discovery of this new species requires increased vigilance on the next cases that will be reported from the Pyrenees to the French and Spanish poison control centers.
Epidemiology of scorpionism in France: nationwide scorpion exposure
Published in Clinical Toxicology, 2021
Jules-Antoine Vaucel, Cédric Gil-Jardine, Magali Labadie, Sébastien Larréché, Camille Paradis, Audrey Nardon, Arnaud Courtois, Jérôme Langrand, Hatem Kallel
Scorpion stings are a frequent event in tropical and sub-tropical areas [1]. Although some scorpions tend to be associated with man-made or disturbed habitats, the majority are adapted to very specific and predictable natural environments [2]. French territories are distributed all around the world, namely in Europe (mainland France and Corsica), South America (French Guiana), the Lesser Antilles (Guadeloupe and Martinique) and the western Indian Ocean (Réunion Island and Mayotte). French Guiana is the only territory in which more than 100 stings per 100,000 inhabitants are reported [3]. Of the 2200 scorpion species described worldwide, 57 are native to France and its territories, and are not equally dangerous [4–17]. Among scorpions native to France, only Tityus obscurus can result in fatal envenoming [4]. Tityus silvestris and Centruroides pococki can also induce severe envenoming, but no related death was recorded [18,19]. These species are encountered in French Guiana and Lesser Antilles [5]. The remaining scorpions induce only local, minor or no manifestations [4]. Owing to the non-severe clinical presentation, scorpion envenoming in French territories was rarely studied and existing literature is limited to case reports [19–25], studies published in French language [26–28] and/or conducted in French Guiana [29–33].