A profile of scorpionism, including the species of scorpions involved, in the State of Amazonas, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigated scorpionism profile in the State of Amazonas, Brazil. Methods: Data referring to stinging incidents were obtained from the National Databank of Major Causes of Morbidity. Information on the scorpion species involved was obtained from the Amazonas State health units. Results: Amazonas has a scorpionism rate of 8.14 cases/100,000 inhabitants. Some municipalities (e.g., Apuí) presented higher rates (273 cases/100,000 inhabitants). Most species involved in envenomation belonged to the genus Tityus. Conclusions: Our results reaffirm the notion of scorpionism being a public health hazard and provide data that can guide public policy aimed at scorpionism prevention and treatment.

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of scorpionism in the interior of the state of Bahia, Brazil: retrospective epidemiological study

“…These clinical characteristics are similar to those found in studies conducted in different Brazilian states 12,20 and in regions of Iran 21 and Saudi Arabia. 22 In general, cases with mild symptoms require simple therapeutic measures such as administration of analgesics and antihistamines.…”

Avaliação do uso de soros antivenenos na emergência de um hospital público regional de Vitória da Conquista (BA), Brasil

“…Similarly, in the warmer and wetter months, the increased activity of rural workers exposes them to contact with snakes 25,26 . Also, higher temperatures favor the mating and reproduction of scorpions, snakes, and spiders 3,44,47,50 .…”

Implication of Tityus apiacas (Lourenco, 2002) in scorpion envenomations in the Southern Amazon border, Brazil

“…The most frequent species involved in human stings are referred as being T. obscurus, Tityus silvestris, and T. metuendus 5,7 , probably owing to their large geographical distribution in the Amazon basin; whereas Tityus apiacas , has a Southern distribution in Amazonia, South of the Rio Solimões/ Amazonas in the States of Amazonas, Mato Grosso and Pará, Brazil. These species belong to the group Tityus asthenes, and it is closely related to T. obscurus and Tityus dinizi, thus potentially leading to a misidentification between T. apiacas and T. obscurus.…”

“…Sufficient taxonomical and distribution information is available for thirteen Tityus spp. reported for the State of Amazonas 4 , and the species responsible for human envenomation were identified as Tityus metuendus, Tityus mathieseni, Tityus bastosi, and Tityus silvestris 5,6 . Tityus obscurus has been shown to cause severe stings in the Western region of the State of Pará 7 .…”