Scorpion envenomation in Assiut governorate. [analysis and clinicolaboratory study 1]

ABSTRACT

This study included three hundred and eighty-five victims [5% of all victims aged less than fifteen years]. The mean time between the sting and presentation to the University Hospital was 4.4 +/- 1.2 hours. Males [62.9%] exceeded females [37.1%]. The commonest site of the sting was the foot. Of all the victims studied, 45.2% were stung at night and 47.2% of the stings occurred outside the dwellings. The majority of cases came from the rural areas [86.3%]. Victims coming from Assiut district contributed to 38.7% of admissions. Out of children older than five years [48%], only 54% were school pupils. Children less than one year of age contributed to 3.6% of all cases. The presenting symptoms included local pain [84.6%], cardiovascular system manifestations [CVS][63.25%], vomiting [56.6%], CNS [51.4%], autonomic disturbances [45.2%] and 51.2% of the victims showed manifestations of more than two systems involvement. It was observed that CNS and CVS systems involvement were significantly higher in the younger cases. Only 2% of cases showed manifest tetany. Raised CPK was detected among 25.7% of the victims. Children aged< 5 years showed significantly lower mean values of serum Ca++, K+, creatinine and blood hemoglobin compared with those older than five years