Scorpion sting epidemiology in Montes municipality of the State of Sucre, Venezuela: geographic distribution

Abstract

Scorpion stings were surveyed in the Montes Municipality of the State of Sucre, Venezuela, aiming to extend the information on these poisonous accidents by characterizing their geographic distribution. From 1980 to 1990, 184 cases of scorpion stings were recorded with an incidence rate of 38.6 cases per 10,000 inhabitants. The locality of San Fernando presented the highest incidence (68.3(0)/000) of poisonous accidents. The highest percentages of severe cases were recorded in the towns of Arenas (27%), San Lorenzo (21%), and Cocollar (19%), which are located at the foot of the Turimiquire Mountains. This region is a dispersion area of scorpions of the Tityus genus. Our results show that this region of the State of Sucre is endemic for scorpion stings which are an important public health problem.

Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects of Scorpionism in the World: A Systematic Review

“…There are few epidemiological population-based studies about scorpions in urban areas where this problem is considered endemic or studies investigating characteristics of the etiological agents responsible for the accidents. Among the studies with the scope of this article, Spirandeli-Cruz et al 7 developed a noteworthy study in an endemic area of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, while De Sousa et al 8 did research in the state of Sucre, Venezuela.…”

Acidentes por escorpião em uma área do Nordeste de Amaralina, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil

“…São escassos os estudos epidemiológicos, de base populacional definida, sobre o escorpionismo em áreas urbanas consideradas endêmicas para este agravo, e que também investiguem características dos agentes etiológicos responsáveis pelo acidente. Dentre os estudos com este escopo, destacamse os trabalhos de Spirandelli-Cruz et al 26 , desenvolvido em uma área endêmica do Estado de São Paulo e o de De Sousa et al 8 , realizado no Estado de Sucre, Venezuela.…”

Evolution of alternative methodologies of scorpion antivenoms production

“…However, the rates of fatal envenomations vary significantly between regions, with some rural areas still reporting high mortality rates (e.g, 6803 stings and 6.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants annually in some rural places of the Andes) (De Sousa et al, 1996). Tityus serrulatus causes approximately 10,000 cases annually with 50% occurring in the state of Minas Gerais (Maria et al, 2005) where mortality reaches 1.1%, especially among children Freire-Maia and Campos, 1989).…”