Envenomation by Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones; Buthidae) in Bahia, Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 33; no. 3
• Main Authors: Lira-da-Silva, Rejâne Maria, Amorim, Andréa Monteiro de, Brazil, Tania Kobler
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rio de Janeiro Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01-05-2000
• Subjects: Edema
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/S0037-86822000000300001

The present investigation is a descriptive study regarding the clinical aspects of accidents caused by the scorpion Tityus stigmurus in Bahia, Brazil. We analyzed 237 confirmed cases treated by the Antivenom Information Centre (CIAVE) from 1982 to 1995. Envenomation by T. stigmurus was mainly characterized by local symptoms: pain (94.4%), dormancy (30.0%), edema (17.8%), erythema (17.8), paresthesia (15.6%) and general manifestations such as headache (4.4%), vomiting (4.4%) and sudoresis (3.3%). Most of the envenomation cases were mild (94%) and all were successfully cured. Although T. stigmurus venom is not in the pool of anti-venom serum (SAE), the absence of lethality and benign nature of the cases suggest the efficiency of SAE. With the exception of deaths and systemic complications, envenoming gravity was similar to those of Tityus serrulatus.