CLINICAL AND LABORATORY FİNDİNGS OF SCORPION ENVENOMATİON IN CHILDREN: 182 CASE

Abstract

Objective It is stated that there are more than 1500 scorpion species in the world, only a few of them are poisonous. It is estimated that there are 13 species of scorpions in Turkey. Poisoning due to scorpion stings are preventable cause of mortality and morbidity, and deaths are more common in children. It is mostly due to cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema. In our study, it was aimed to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients who applied for scorpion sting and the treatments applied. Method The file records of the cases who applied to our hospital due to scorpion sting between 01.01.2018 and 01.01.2021 were examined retrospectively. Results Out of 182 children included in the study 79 girls (43.4%) and 103 boys (56.6%) and the median age was 98 months. Scorpion stings were most common in July (24.7%), between 18:00-24:00 (45.1%), indoors (56.7%). 66 of the patients (36.2%) were referred to our hospital from the another hospital. Intensive care follow-up was done in 59 patients (32.4%) and those who were admitted to the intensive care unit (65 months) were younger than those who were admitted to the service (110 months). In terms of treatments, antivenom was administered to 57 patients (31.3%), doxazosin to 7 (3.8%) and adrenaline (0.5%) to 1 patient. ECO was performed in four patients and myocarditis was detected in one patient. While 3 of the patients were transferred to another center, the other patients were discharged with recovery. Conclusion Scorpion sting is an important mortality and morbidity problem all over the world. Its incidence increases especially in the summer months. All cases of scorpion stings and suspected cases should immediately apply to a health institution. Antivenom treatment applied to patients with systemic findings has been life-saving, but precautions should be taken against anaphylactic reaction that may develop while applying antivenom treatment.