[Establishment and analysis of a log to record scorpion stings in Morocco]

Within the framework of a strategy against scorpion stings, an information system was established to track the indicators of morbidity and mortality caused by scorpion stings. The study of these indicators was carried out based upon a national record of scorpion stings. During the year 2001, 15,571 cases of scorpion stings were reported, that translates into an incidence rate of 1.2%. The patients were poisoned in 11.6% of the cases. Most of the patients (79.3%) were only put under clinical surveillance and did not receive any symptomatic treatment. The death rate was 6.3% and death only occurred in children of less than 15 years old (2.1% of the cases). This study demonstrated an improvement in morbidity and mortality indicators in comparison to the data collected before this campaign, all of which verifies the positive impact of the strategy which was put into place. However, it is necessary to continue monitoring until Morocco can overcome this problem.