Scorpion sting
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Scorpion stings are painful but rarely life-threatening. Young children, and sometimes the very old, are most at risk of serious complications.
In the United States, the bark scorpion, found mainly in the desert Southwest, is the only scorpion species with venom potent enough to cause severe symptoms. Worldwide, only about 30 of the estimated 1,500 species of scorpions produce venom toxic enough to be fatal. But with millions of scorpion stings occurring each year, often in areas with a lack of access to medical care, deaths due to scorpion stings are a significant public health problem in parts of Mexico, South America, North Africa, the Middle East and India.
Healthy adults usually don’t need treatment for scorpion stings. But if a child is stung, the same amount of venom may have more-serious consequences, so seek immediate medical care.
Most scorpion stings cause only localized signs and symptoms, such as pain and warmth at the site of the sting. Sometimes these symptoms may be quite intense, even if you don’t see redness or swelling.
Signs and symptoms at the site of the sting may include:
Signs and symptoms related to widespread (systemic) venom effects usually occur in children who are stung and may include:
As with other stinging insects, such as bees and wasps, it is possible for people who have previously been stung by scorpions to also have allergic reactions with subsequent stings. These subsequent stings are sometimes severe enough to cause a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis. Signs and symptoms in these cases are similar to those of anaphylaxis caused by bee stings and can include hives, trouble breathing, and nausea and vomiting.
Get immediate medical care for a child stung by a scorpion.
Call your local poison control center for advice if you’re concerned about a scorpion sting. To reach a poison control center in the United States, call Poison Help at 800-222-1222.
Seek prompt medical care if you’ve been stung by a scorpion and begin to experience widespread symptoms.
Scorpions are arthropods — a relative of insects, spiders and crustaceans. The average scorpion is about 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) long. Scorpions have eight legs and a pair of lobster-like pinchers and a tail that curves up. They sting rather than bite, using the stinger in their tails. The venom itself contains a complex mix of toxins that affect the nervous system (neurotoxins).
Scorpions are nocturnal creatures that resist stinging unless provoked or attacked. They can control the amount of venom they release — depending on how threatened they feel — so some stings may be almost entirely venomless.
Certain factors can increase your risk of a scorpion sting:
The very old and the very young are most likely to die of untreated venomous scorpion bites. The cause is usually heart or respiratory failure occurring some hours after the sting. Very few deaths from scorpion stings have been reported in the United States.
Another possible complication of scorpion stings, though rare, is a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
Scorpions tend to avoid contact. If you live in an area where scorpions are common, prevent chance meetings by doing the following:
If you do find a scorpion near your home or campsite, use tongs to gently remove the scorpion away from people.
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Scorpion sting
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