Sudhakar Ajmera1, Vijayalaxmi Ambati2, Murali3
INTRODUCTION
Scorpion sting envenomation are real threats in children of tropical and subtropical zones of world including India. It may be life threatening in children, if left untreated. The annual number of scorpion stings exceeds 1.2 million with 2.3 billion population at risk. The incidence of scorpion sting is very high in some parts of India; Warangal is one among them.
METHODS & MATERIALS
This is an Observational Cross-Sectional Study of 115 cases of scorpion sting, admitted to MGM Hospital Warangal, under Kakatiya Medical College from 1st Jan 2014 to December 2014 were included in the study.
RESULTS
In this present study, incidence of scorpion sting was 2.45 %. More than half cases were seen in 1-6 years of age. 63% of scorpion stings are in summer and late winter. 85% of cases were from rural areas. 84% of scorpion stings were indoor, may be due to poor housing condition. Most common symptom was pain, followed by sweating, paraesthesia, vomiting. Most common physical signs noted were cold extremities followed by hypotension, priapism hypertension, tachycardia, and bradycardia. Most common complication observed was peripheral circulatory failure followed by myocarditis, pulmonary oedema, congestive heart failure.
CONCLUSION
One child developed hemiplegia, severity of symptoms, signs, complications and outcome did not depend on the age, sex, site of sting, interval between sting and admission. Presence of, vomiting, tachypnoea, shortness of breath, ECG abnormalities, priapism, creps in the lungs, prolonged CRT, had more chances of progressing to complications like myocarditis, pulmonary oedema. The serum levels of sodium, potassium, blood glucose, total leucocyte count did not have any effect on complications and outcome of the children. Two deaths occurred due to massive pulmonary oedema and myocarditis. Case Fatality rate was 1.7%.
