Scorpion sting in children from northwestern area of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

The assess the clinical severity of envenomation in children by scorpion species in Riyadh region and the potential benefit of antivenin administration. Retrospective medical record review study. Teaching and tertiary-care hospital. Children aged 12 years and younger experiencing scorpion sting over a period of 15 years [1983-1998]. Sixty three patients with an age range of 2 months to 12 years [median 6 years] and 20.6% of the patients were below the age of 3 years while 50 [79.4%] were above that age. Forty eight [76.2%] were males while 15 [23.8%] were females with a male/female ratio of 3.21. Fifteen [23.8%] patients were stung at the upper half of the body while 48 [76.2%] were stung at lower half. We found that there was a significantly higher occurrence of scorpion sting in children above the age of 3 years and also among the males. The lower half of the body was significantly affected. The manifestations of the illness in Riyadh were not severe and antivenin therapy did not affect the outcome of the illness