Scorpion stingão: symptoms and what to do

2023 Author: Benjamin Dyson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 01:37

Scorpion sting, most of the time, causes few symptoms, such as redness, swelling and pain at the sting site, however, some cases can be more serious, causing generalized symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, pain of headache, muscle spasms and a drop in blood pressure, even with the risk of death.

In case of a scorpion sting, first aid is:

1. Wash the bite site with soap and water;
2. Keep the bite site facing up;
3. Do not cut, puncture or pinch the bite site;
4. Drink plenty of water;
5. Go to the emergency room as soon as possible or call SAMU 192.

The most dangerous types of scorpion are the yellow scorpion, brown, northeast yellow scorpion and the black scorpion of the Amazon, but the severity of the condition also depends on the amount of venom that was injected and the immunity of each person.

Main sting symptoms

Symptoms of a scorpion sting are pain and inflammation at the sting site, with redness, swelling and local heat that lasts from a few hours to 2 days, but in cases more serious symptoms can occur, such as:

• Nausea and vomiting;
• Dizziness;
• Headache;
• Trembling and muscle spasms;
• Sweat;
• Pale;
• Drowsy or agitation
• Low pressure or high pressure;
• Rapid or slow heartbeat;
• Shortness of breath.

In very rare cases, a scorpion sting can even cause arrhythmias and cardiac arrest, which can lead to death if the person is not quickly attended to and treated.

How the treatment is done

To relieve pain and inflammation at the bite site, it is recommended to apply compresses with warm water, and to use analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs, such as dipyrone or ibuprofen, for example, prescribed by the doctor.

In patients with more severe symptoms, it is necessary to use anti-scorpion serum, which will be prescribed by the doctor in the emergency room, to cut the effect of the poison on the body. In these cases, hydration is also performed with saline solution in the vein and observation for a few hours, until the symptoms have disappeared.

How to identify the type of scorpion

The best way to know if the type of scorpion is very poisonous is, if possible, to capture and take the animal to the emergency room for identification. There are about 30 species of scorpion in Brazil, the most dangerous of which are:

Yellow Scorpion - has a light yellow color, with darker spots on the back and tail, and measures up to 7 cm in length. It is the most dangerous scorpion, and its sting causes pain and numbness, which can lead to nausea, vomiting, sweating and arrhythmias, especially in children and the elderly.

Brown Scorpion - has a dark brown or reddish-brown color, with yellow and spotted paws, and measures about 7 cm. It is often found in humid regions, and its bite causes a lot of pain, numbness, nausea and discomfort.

Escorpião do Nordeste - has a yellowish coloration, with a darker line in the center, and a small darker triangle on its head. It usually causes mild cases, with pain and numbness at the bite site.

Black Amazon Scorpion - has a dark color, almost black, and measures about 8.5cm. Its bite causes intense pain and local inflammation, with a stinging and burning sensation, in addition to causing serious symptoms, such as arrhythmias, dizziness, shortness of breath and drowsiness.

How to avoid a scorpion sting

To prevent scorpion stings, it is recommended to take some precautions at home, such as:

• Keep the house clean, removing accumulations of dirt behind furniture, curtains and rugs;
• Clean the yard or garden, to avoid accumulation of rubbish and garbage in these places;
• Avoid going barefoot or putting your hands in holes or crevices;
• Keep animals such as chickens, owls, geese or frogs in the yard, as they are predators of scorpions;
• Inspect clothes and shoes before wearing them.

Cleanliness is important, because dirty places, with infestation of cockroaches and rats, for example, more easily attract venomous animals such as scorpions, spiders and snakes. Know what to do, too, in spider and snakebite situations.

Check out these and other tips in the following video:

How to catch or kill scorpions

The scorpion is a very difficult animal to eliminate, since it is quite resistant to poisons. This happens because it is an animal that manages to close its lung stigmas, not inhaling the poison. In addition, it is able to stand still for long periods of time, not coming into contact with the poison.

Thus, it is best to call the authorities as soon as a scorpion is identified, so that it is captured and taken to specific locations. If you need to capture the scorpion at home, you should:

• Use long-sleeved pants and shirts;
• Wear thick rubber boots;
• Wear thick protective gloves, such as electrical gloves;
• Wear a hat;
• Pick up the scorpion with tweezers of at least 20 cm;
• Hold the scorpion by the tail and place it inside a plastic container;
• Close the container with a lid, preferably screw-on, and with small holes.

However, it is always worth remembering that the scorpion should, whenever possible, be captured by a trained professional, so that accidents do not happen.

Captured scorpions should be handed over to the authorities, preferably alive, not only to avoid a sting, but also so that they can be used to create antidotes.