Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of scorpion stings in children in fez, Morocco

• Published in: The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases Vol. 15; no. 2; p. Dis [online]
• Main Authors: Abourazzak, S(Hassan II University Hospital Center Department of Pediatrics), Achour, S(Rabat Institute Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center of Morocco), El Arqam, L(Hassan II University Hospital Center Department of Pediatrics), Atmani, S(Hassan II University Hospital Center Department of Pediatrics), Chaouki, S(Hassan II University Hospital Center Department of Pediatrics), Semlali, I(Rabat Institute Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center of Morocco), Soulaymani Bencheikh, R(Rabat Institute Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center of Morocco), Bouharrou, A(Hassan II University Hospital Center Department of Pediatrics), Hida, M(Hassan II University Hospital Center Department of Pediatrics)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos - CEVAP, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP 2009; Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos; SciELO
• Subjects: children; clinical symptoms; envenomation; Morocco; scorpion sting; TOXICOLOGY; treatment; TROPICAL MEDICINE; scorpion sting; treatment; Morocco; children; clinical symptoms; envenomation
• ISSN: 1678-9199; 1678-9199
• DOI: 10.1590/S1678-91992009000200008

Scorpion stings are a public health problem in Morocco, especially among children, who experience the most severe cases. Epidemiological and clinical findings on scorpion stings in Fez, Morocco, were evaluated in this investigation. Of 163 cases that required medical attention, 62.6% were male children. The mean age of patients was 4.8 ± 3.4 years. The mean time between stings and first medical attention was 3.36 ± 2.5 hours. Almost all cases occurred in the summer (94%) and extremities represented the most frequent sting sites (86.5%). Local pain, hyperemia, scarification, vomiting, sweating, restlessness, tachycardia and tachypnea were the observed clinical symptoms. Regarding severity, 55.2% of patients belonged to class III, followed by class II (26.4%) and class I (18.4%). None of our patients received antivenom; however, all of them were treated symptomatically depending on clinical manifestations.