Scorpion sting in an area of Nordeste de Amaralina, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 36; no. 1
• Main Authors: Amorim, Andréa Monteiro de, Carvalho, Fernando Martins, Lira-da-Silva, Rejâne Maria, Brazil, Tania Kobler
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rio de Janeiro Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01-01-2003
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86822003000100008

An epidemiological study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of individuals who referred scorpion sting accidents in a population sample from Areal, a neighborhood northeast of Amaralina, Salvador City, State of Bahia, Brazil. A random, systematic sample of 1,367 individuals was taken, corresponding to 44.4% of the total population. Eighty-two residents referred scorpion sting since they were resident in Areal, giving a prevalence coefficient of 6% (95% CI 4.7 - 7.3). The prevalence of persons stung by scorpions increased according to greater time spent in the domicile and more advanced age. It was remarkable that 92.7% of the scorpions stings occurred within the home. The incidence coefficient estimated for the most recent period of time (January to July, 2000) was 1.15 cases/1,000 inhabitants per month, comparable to the highest ever reported for an epidemic area.