Accidentes con escorpiones en la ciudad de posadas, Provincia de Misiones, Argentina, durante el año 2002

Abstract

Studies were carried out to evaluate scorpion accidents in the city of Posadas. Studies comprised the analysis of doctor consulting forms belonging to the Emergency Rooms from two of the main hospitals in the city (Ramón Madariaga hospital and Self -Management Pediatrics Hospital), as well as files from accidents with poisonous non ophidian animals, all scorpions involved in the accidents were identified. Results obtained in the year 2002 are shown discriminating between: number of cases, months of the year, scorpion species involved, type of accidents, most frequent symptoms, treatments used, relationship rate with other poisonous non ophidian animals, injured sexes and ages of treated children. Also, we compared data of previous years from 1998. We found that during the year 2002, 97 accidents with scorpions were recorded. The accidents occurred in nearly all months of the year, increasing steadily when warm periods started, and having their highest peak during the months of December, January and February. From data available, we consider that most of them were produced by Tityus trivittatus. No serious or lethal cases was officially reported. Stings were painful and no antidotes were required. Treatments included use of corticoids or antihistamines and sedatives. Females were the most affected, and accidents involved children between ages of 6 and 13. When comparing the occurrence of previous years, results show that scorpion accidents are gradually increasing.