MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Scorpions

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Scorpions

Contents of this page:
Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms Home Treatment	Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Definition

Poisoning due to a sting of a scorpion.

Poisonous Ingredient

scorpion venom

Where Found

scorpions
related species

Most varieties of North American scorpions are nonpoisonous. The poisonous ones in the U.S. live mainly in the southwestern deserts.

Symptoms

mild case:

body as a whole
- mild tingling or burning at site of sting

severe case:

body as a whole
- muscular spasms
- convulsions
- urinary incontinence
- urine output, decreased
- excessive salivation (drooling)
- random movements of head, eye, and/or neck
respiratory
- rapid breathing
- difficulty breathing
- stop breathing
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- tongue feels thicker
- spasm of the larynx (voice box)
- double vision
gastrointestinal
- abdominal cramps
- Inflammation of the pancreas
- fecal incontinence
heart and blood vessels
- high blood pressure
- increased or decreased heart rate
- irregular heartbeat
nervous system
- restlessness
- tense
- seizures
- paralysis

Home Treatment

Most stings from North American scorpions do not require treatment. Children 6 years and younger are more susceptible to the toxic effects of the poisonous varieties.

Place ice (wrapped in a washcloth or other suitable covering) on the site of the sting for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process. Immobilize the affected limb. If patient has circulatory problems, decrease the time to prevent possible damage to the skin.

Keep the patient still.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
identification of the insect if possible
the time stung

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.

If possible, bring the scorpion to the emergency room for identification.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Give an antiserum.
Open and maintain the airway if needed.
Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis)

Death rarely occurs in patients older than 6 years. If symptoms rapidly become worse within the first 2 to 4 hours after the sting, a poor outcome is indicated. Symptoms usually last 24 to 48 hours. Some deaths have occurred as late as 4 days after the sting.

Update Date: 2/23/2004

Updated by: Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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