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Published on: October 6, 2023
Characterization of scorpion envenoming in children care for a poisoning control center
Raul Henrique Tonin Dos Santos1, Alberto Durán González2, Camilo Molino Guidoni3
1Medical School, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Insights
Scorpion stings in children are increasing, with Tityus serrulatus being the main cause. Younger children and delayed treatment increase hospitalization risk for scorpion envenomation.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Scorpion envenomation poses a significant health risk to children.
- Understanding the clinical and epidemiological factors is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze clinical and epidemiological factors associated with toxicological events in pediatric scorpion envenomation.
- To identify risk factors for hospitalization in children aged 0-11 years.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study analyzed 450 cases of scorpion envenomation in children (0-11 years) from 2017-2022.
- Data included sociodemographic, clinical, and toxicological event details.
- Poisson regression was used to analyze factors associated with hospitalization (≥24 hours).
Main Results:
- Tityus serrulatus caused the majority of envenomations (48.7%).
- Common symptoms included pain, erythema, tachycardia, vomiting, and sweating.
- Hospitalization (8.4%) was linked to T. serrulatus stings, younger age (≤4 years), and delayed treatment (>3 hours).
Conclusions:
- Pain, erythema, tachycardia, vomiting, and sweating are key clinical signs of scorpion envenomation in children.
- Demographic, agent, and exposure factors significantly influence hospitalization risk.
Objective:
To analyse the clinical and epidemiological factors associated with the toxicological events of scorpion envenomation in children aged 0-11 years followed at a Centre for Toxicological Information and Assistance (CIATox).
Methods:
A descriptive study was conducted of children treated at the CIATox of the University Hospital of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, from 2017 to 2022. Collected data included sociodemographic and clinical data, as well as data regarding the toxicological event. The dependent variable was hospitalization with a minimum duration of 24 h. For the association analyses, Poisson regression with logistic variance was used, with calculation of the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
Results:
In total, 450 cases were analysed, with an increase in the number of cases over the years, and predominance of accidents caused by Tityus serrulatus (48.7%). The main local symptoms were pain and erythema/hyperaemia, and the main systemic symptoms were tachycardia, vomiting and generalized sweating. Antiscorpion serum or antiarachnidic serum was required for 10.9% of the patients. Hospitalization was observed in 8.4% of the cases, which was higher in children stung by T. serrulatus (RR = 11.34; 95% CI: 3.46-37.18; p < 0.001), aged 4 years or younger (OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.15-3.95; p = 0.016), and time between sting and CIATox treatment of 3 h or more (OR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.20-5.35; p = 0.015).
Conclusions:
The results indicate that pain, erythema/hypearemia, tachycardia, vomiting and sweating are the main clinical manifestations. Demographic, agent-related, and exposure-related factors were associated with patient hospitalization.
