Title: A Study on the Clinical Profile of Scorpion Sting Envenomation in Children in A Tertiary Care Centre

Authors: Dr Wakil Paswan, Dr Bankey Behari Singh

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i4.185

Abstract

Background: Scorpion sting envenomation is a life threatening emergency. The main objective is to study the clinical profile and outcome of scorpion sting envenomation in children.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed case records of children under 15 years of age who admitted with scorpion sting envenomation from April 2016 to March 2017.  Case records were analyzed for age and sex of the patient; site of scorpion sting, time lapsed from the scorpion sting to hospitalization, season, clinical manifestations, duration of hospital stay and outcome.

Results: During the study period, 205 children were admitted for scorpion sting. Majority of the children are from rural area, male sex, and stung in lower limb, mostly during nights of summer, Local pain at the site of sting and diaphoresis are the commonest symptoms. (52.6%) children had class II severity. Five patients died, complicated with pulmonary edema.

Conclusions: Prompt referral and early therapy with prazocin is life saving for scorpion sting envenomation in children.

Keywords: Scorpion sting envenomation, Pulmonary edema, Prazocin.

References

1.      Bawaskar HS, Bawaskar PH. Clinical profile of severe scorpion envenomation  in children at rural seting. Indian Pediatrics. 2003:40:1072-81.

2.      Bawaskar HS, Bawaskar PH. Scorpion sting: update. J Assoc Physicians India. 2012;60:46-55

3.      Vazirianzadeh b, farhadpour f, Hossein-zadeh M, Zarean M. Moravvej s. An epidemiological and clinical study on scorpionism in hospitalized children in Kuzestan, Iran. J arthropod Borne Dis 2012;6:62-9.

4.      Mahadevan S. Scorpiin sting. Indian Pediatr. 2000;37:504-14

5.      Ismail M. The scoprion- envenoming syndrome. Toxicon. 1995;3:825-58

6.      Chi PJP. Emerging options for the management of scorpion stings. Drug Des Devel ther. 2012;6:165-73

7.      Pol R, Vanaki R. Pol Manaswini. The clinical profile and the efficacy of prazosin in scorpion sting envenomatioin in children of North Karnataka (India). J Clin Diagna Res. 2011:5(3):456-8

8.      Cesaretli Y,Ozkan O. Scopion sting in Turkery: Epidemiological and clinical aspects between the years 1995 and 2004. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paoulo. 2010;52:215-20.

9.      Bosnak M, Levent YH, Ece a, Yildizdas D, Yolbas I, Koicamaz H, et al. Severe scorpion envenomation in children: management in the paediatric intensive care unit. Hum Exp Toxicol 2009; 28 (11) :721-8

10.  Farghly WM, ali FA. A clinical and neurophysiological study of scorpion envenomatioin in Assiut, Upper Egypt. Acta Paediatr. 1999;88:290-4

11.  Biswal N, Bashir RA, Murmu Uday C, Mathai B, Balachander J, Srinivasan S. Outcome of scorpion sting envenomation after a protocol guided therapy. Indian J Pediatr. 2006;73:577-82

Corresponding Author

Dr Wakil Paswan

Assistant Prof. Department of Pediatrics

A.N.M.M. College Gaya