Scorpion accidents in children
epidemiological profile in the northern region of Brazil (2019–2023)
Keywords:
Scorpion Stings, Child, Epidemiological MonitoringAbstract
Objective: To analyze the epidemiological profile and clinical characteristics of scorpion stings in children under 10 years of age in the Northern Region of Brazil between 2019 and 2023. Method: This is a descriptive and retrospective study, based on data from the Epidemiological Panel of the Ministry of Health. Sociodemographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics were evaluated. Results: Notifications increased from 421 cases in 2019 to 719 in 2023, while lethality fell from 0.24% to 0.14%, except for a peak in 2021. Most cases occurred among boys (56.8%) and children of mixed race (77.8%), predominantly in rural areas, with a total of 1,715 cases (60.2%). Regarding the affected body regions, 589 cases (20.7%) of stings were recorded on the hand and 884 cases (31%) on the foot. Most accidents were classified as mild (70.6%), with predominant local manifestations, such as pain (87%) and edema (49%). Systemic manifestations, such as vagal symptoms, were observed in 7.8% of cases. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of preventive strategies in high-risk areas and the training of health teams for early diagnosis and appropriate management, including the use of anti-scorpion serum, to reduce morbidity and mortality.
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