Escorpionismo: uma revisão bibliográfica.

Abstract

The accidents involving scorpions are being considered a public health issue in Brazil due to its high incidence and the complications of its clinical conditions. In Brazil, notable species are the ones from the Tytus genus, especially T. serrulatus (yellow scorpion), T. stigmurus (Northeast yellow scorpion), T. bahiensis (brown scorpion) and T. obscurus (Amazon black scorpion). The pain on the sting site is a constant on scorpionic accidents, potentially, in most serious cases, spreading through the whole stricken member, being followed by paresthesia, erythema, local sweating and piloerection. In moderate/serious cases, it is deemed necessary the administration of anti-scorpionic or anti-arachnid serums. Deaths arising from these accidents are most commonly associated to T. serrulatus and the pediatric age group, with a lethality rate of 0,58%. The scorpions, arthropods belonging to the Scorpiones order, have notable capability of adapting to home environments (sinanthropy) due to the conditions that such environments provide, relieving them from natural predators and offering shelter and food. The treatment to the scorpionic accident may be symptomatic for milder cases, or specific for moderate/serious cases, with the use of antivenom on the latter. Thus, this work has as an objective to describe the scorpionic accident, with emphasis on the main clinical complications arising from the aggravation. For such, a review would be made on database literature from Medline, Pubmed, Scielo, scientific articles and national committees, with the use of the following descriptors: (1) scorpion; (2) scorpion accidents; (3) scorpionism; (4) public health. The information composing the present study have an informative and educational character, helping appreciators of the theme and health professionals in improving their knowledge about scorpionism, which will have an impact on society from the moment that such information collaborate to the elaboration of strategies to the dissemination of knowledge or to the adoption of politics against the aggravation.