ABSTRACT
The present research study was conducted to get new information due to the epidemiology of scorpionism in the region of Kshan, central of Iran. This was a descriptive retrospective study. Totally 230 files, belonging to the patients presented to the health centre and hospitals of city of Kashan during one year [March 22nd 2007 - March 21st 2008] were reviewed. In a questioner, this information was included and recorded for each patient: sex and age of scorpion sting victim, background of patient, antivenin treatment, month of scorpion sting, scorpion-stung part of body, color of scorpion and geographical place [rural/urban]. The frequencies of epidemiological parameters were converted to the percentage rank. The incidence of scorpion sting in Kashan is calculated as 58 persons in hundred thousand [100,000]. The results of this study show that the most of scorpion-stung patients were males [53.04%] and the rest were females [46.95%]. The distribution rate of ages shows that the greatest rate of scorpion stings were reported among the 15-24 year old people. Data collected in this study revealed that the highest incidence of scorpion sting cases took place in summer [75.7%] and the lowest in winter [0.4%]. Totally 73.91% of scorpion sting victims were from urban areas and the rest [26.08%] were from rural areas of Kashan. The scorpions brought to the Medical Centres by the patients or their relatives were identifiedas Odonthobuthusdoriae, Hotentta saulcyi, Compsobuthus sp., Androctonus crassicauda and Orthochirus sp. of Buthidae and Scorpio maurus of Scorpionidae in Kashan of Iran. It is concluded that the scorpionism in Kashan is similar to the other areas from the epidemiological cases including: distribution rate of ages, sex and site of stings. Existence of Hemiscorpius lepturus causes more clinical effects among people of south west of Iran than Kashan area