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Pediatric scorpionism: a descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study of predictors of severity
Santiago Suasnábar1,2, Claudia Godoy3, Andrea Forchino3
1Hospital de Niños Dr. Orlando Alassia, Santa Fe, Argentina. smsuasnabar@hotmail.com.
Insights
Younger children stung by Tityus carrilloi scorpion are at higher risk for severe systemic manifestations, especially during winter and spring. Elevated white blood cell (WBC) and blood glucose levels indicate severe scorpionism.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Pediatric Toxicology
- Clinical Manifestations of Scorpionism
Background:
- Scorpion envenomation by Tityus carrilloi n. sp. poses a significant health risk, with clinical presentations ranging from mild to severe.
- Understanding the epidemiological and biochemical factors associated with different severities of scorpionism is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the epidemiological and biochemical characteristics of mild, moderate, and severe scorpionism in children.
- To identify risk factors associated with severe envenomation by Tityus carrilloi.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study analyzing consultations of children under 15 years stung by Tityus carrilloi.
- Data collected from a tertiary care children's hospital in Santa Fe, Argentina, between January 2017 and December 2018.
Main Results:
- Out of 524 children, 19% experienced systemic manifestations, predominantly in younger children and during winter/spring.
- Severe cases (23/103 hospitalized) showed significantly longer hospital stays.
- Elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts (>30,000 cells/mL) and blood glucose levels (>300 mg/dL) were almost exclusively observed in severe scorpionism.
Conclusions:
- Younger age and seasonal factors (winter, spring) increase the risk of systemic manifestations in children stung by Tityus carrilloi.
- High WBC and blood glucose levels are indicators of severe scorpionism in pediatric cases.
- Prompt recognition and management of severe scorpionism are vital for improving patient outcomes.
Introduction:
Scorpion envenomation by Tityus carrilloi n. sp. represents a threat to life. Depending on its clinical manifestations, it is classified as mild, moderate or severe.
Objective:
To compare the epidemiological and biochemical characteristics among children with mild, moderate, and severe scorpionism.
Population And Methods:
Descriptive, crosssectional, and retrospective study. The consultations at a tertiary care children's hospital in Santa Fe (Argentina) of children under 15 years of age stung by Tityus carrilloi n. sp. between January 2017 and December 2018 were analyzed.
Results:
In total, 524 children were included, 81% (421) with local pain and 19% (103) with systemic manifestations. Children with systemic symptoms of scorpionism were younger in age than those with local manifestations (p < 0.001). In the winter, children developed 8 times more systemic manifestations of scorpionism; during the spring, 2.4 times more than during the summer. Out of the 103 hospitalized children, 80 were moderate cases and 23 severe cases. There were no differences between age groups (p = 0.29) or in the delay in receiving the anti-scorpion serum (p = 0.81). The length of hospital stay was longer among severe cases (p < 0.001). WBC and blood glucose levels higher than 30 000 cell/mL and 300 mg/dL, respectively, were present almost exclusively in severe scorpionism cases.
Conclusions:
In children stung by the scorpion Tityus carrilloi n. sp., the younger the age and during winter and spring, the higher the risk for systemic manifestations. WBC and blood glucose levels were higher in children with severe scorpionism.
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