Pediatric scorpionism in northern Amazonia: a 16-year study on epidemiological, environmental and clinical aspects
J. venom. anim. toxins incl. trop. dis
;
26: e202000038, 2020. tab, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS, VETINDEX
| ID: biblio-1135142
ABSTRACT
The Amazon basin is one of the seven major geographical areas where scorpionism is recorded. In French Guiana, 90 stings per 100,000 inhabitants are registered per year. As the severity of cases is higher in children, descriptive studies are needed to have a better understanding of this pathology. The aim of the present study is to describe pediatric scorpionism in French Guiana. Methods:
We conducted a monocentric descriptive retrospective study on scorpion stings in all pediatric patients admitted to Cayenne General Hospital from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2018.Results:
In this survey, 132 patients were included. Of them, 63% were male. Patients with general signs of envenomation were younger and lighter (p = 0.04). The picture was "one sting" (95.3%) by a "big" (47.6%), "black" (60%) and "small pincer" (58%) scorpion on the extremity of the body (84%). Stings occurred mainly during the day, while patients changed clothes. There was no envenomation during night. The monthly evaluation highlights that the number of stings and percentage of general signs of envenomation were closely connected to a composite variable including the variation of the level of rivers (p = 0.005). Cardiac symptoms were recorded in 82% of cases with general signs of envenomation. The presence of pulmonary; ear, nose, and throat (ENT); or gastrointestinal symptoms are related to major envenomation (p = 0.001, p = 0.01, and p = 0.02 respectively). Leukocytosis and glycemia increased according to the envenomation grade whereas serum potassium and alkaline reserve decreased. Forty-six patients needed hospitalization and seven of them required intensive care. No patient died nor presented sequelae at discharge from the hospital.Conclusion:
Pediatric scorpionism in French Guiana is closely associated with child activities and climatic conditions. Severe envenomation presented most of the time with cardiac, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal symptoms.(AU)
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Scorpions
/
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
/
Environmental Statistics
/
Scorpion Stings
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
J. venom. anim. toxins incl. trop. dis
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
Institution/Affiliation country:
Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne/FR
/
Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire Pellegrin/FR
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