2-22. INCIDENCE AND IDENTIFICATION OF SCORPIONS
The greatest danger of scorpion stings is to small children under the age of four
years. Unless prompt action is taken, a small child might be killed by the poison from a
single sting from one of the deadly species of scorpions. The scorpion attacks over the
top of itself. The pincers at the head are used to hold the prey, while the scorpion tears
the prey to pieces with its jaws. Any victim is struck quickly and repeatedly as the
scorpion whips its tail over its body to sting.
2-23. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SCORPION STINGS
When stung by a scorpion, the victim experiences intense pain at the site of the
sting. There is very little inflammation but there is swelling and numbness at the site at
first. The inflammation may increase to a state in small children that they become
entirely unable to cooperate with attendants. There is progressive swelling and redness
at the sting site and the victim has peripheral nervous system excitement. The victim
may go into shock, experience drowsiness, seizures, muscle spasms, vomiting, severe
thirst, and terminal bradycardia. These are the symptoms of a sting by the deadly
Durango scorpion (found in the state of Durango, Mexico). Following the sharp pain,
there is a feeling of numbness or drowsiness immediately followed by an itching
sensation in the nose, mouth, and throat. The victim must necessarily distort his face to
rub his nose and mouth or to sneeze. At first, similar to having a ball of hair in his
throat. This sensation induces the victim to swallow as rapidly as possible. His tongue
becomes sluggish and he must signal to make any communication with others. The
contraction of muscles of the lower jaw make it difficult or impossible to administer
medications through the mouth. He has a disorder of movements in his arms and legs
and his temperature rises rapidly to 104 or 104.8F. Along with this, the salivary
secretion diminishes and his urine becomes scarce. His senses of touch and sight are
affected and strong light is very unpleasant. There may be pronounced strabismus. He
may experience hemorrhaging of the stomach, intestines, or lungs with convulsions
coming in waves and increasing in severity for an hour and a half to two hours or until it
is fatal. If the victim survives for three hours, he can usually be considered out of
danger but death may occur six to eight hours after the sting; in that case, death would
probably be due to nervous exhaustion after the long periods of convulsions. The victim
of a scorpion sting should be taken to a physician who has had experience with these
stings and especially if the victim is under five years old, has a heart ailment, was stung
on a number of widely distributed places or on his face, back of the neck, or genitalia.
There is antiscorpion serum available for the most dangerous scorpion stings.
2-24. CARE AND TREATMENT OF SCORPION STINGS
Usually the sting is no more serious than a good size wasp sting and the
corrective measures are similar. Keep the patient quiet, and do not incise or suction the
sting. Apply a tight tourniquet as close as possible beyond the site, apply a paste of
baking soda to relieve the pain and give specific antivenin to severely ill or victims under
14 years old. Administer a 10% calcium gluconate 10cc IV for the relief of muscle pain
MD0588
2-11