Scorpion Stings: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Forensic Medical Evaluation Using University Hospital Data

Scorpion stings are a major public health concern in Turkey. This study aims to examine the demographic characteristics, clinical features, and treatment processes of scorpion sting cases in Şanlıurfa Province, located in the Southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey.

This retrospective study analyzed patient data, including demographic profiles, clinical presentations, and treatment details of scorpion envenomation cases over a 5-year period (June 2019-June 2024), obtained from the Şanlıurfa Harran University Hospital Information Management System.

A total of 1,041 scorpion envenomation cases were analyzed. The mean age was 25.61 ± 18.50 years (mean ± standard deviation), and women (61.47%) comprised the majority of the patients. The age group of 1-17 years (39.38%) was the most affected. Most envenomation cases (63.4%) occurred during summer, and the extremities (29.5%) were the most commonly affected body regions. Most patients (94.1%) received outpatient treatment and were discharged within 24 h. Antivenom was administered to 12.0% of patients, and 15% were subjected to forensic evaluation. One patient (0.1%) developed cardiac arrest during follow-up and died.

This study investigated the clinical and demographic characteristics of scorpion envenomation to highlight the importance of raising public awareness and implementing preventive measures in high-risk regions. It also emphasizes the critical medical and legal importance of examining the forensic aspects of scorpion stings and ensuring that physicians conduct appropriate evaluation in such cases.