Retrospective Study of Children with Scorpion Envenomation in a Tertiary Care Center of North India

Abstract

Background:  Scorpion envenomation is a common public health problem worldwide and children are at greater risk of developing severe cardiac, respiratory and neurological complications. Scorpion envenomation is a preventable life-threatening medical accident. This study aims at identifying the demographic parameters, clinical features, complications, outcome and response to prazosin in scorpion envenomation of children admitted at tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: It was a retrospective cross sectionalstudy conducted on 52 pediatrics cases admitted in department of Paediatrics, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Science (UPUMS), Saifai from Jan 2016 to Dec 2019 with history of scorpion sting. The clinical details, investigations, treatment and prognosis of all children were evaluated based on the scorpion envenomation. Parameters were expressed as percentage. Results: Majority of children were in the age group of 1 to 6 years 34 (65.38%) with 32 (61.53%) male and belonging to rural area 44 (84.62 %) with sting at lower limb 27 (51.92%) and gap b/w sting and hospitalization was < 6 hours 28 (53.85%). Most common clinical presentation was pain 46 (88.46%) and pulmonary edema 10 (19.23%) was common complications. Majority of children had received prazosin 49 (94.23%) within 6 hours 26 (51.02 %) with 3-6 doses 24 (48.98 %). 51 (98.0%) were successfully discharged and one patient was expired. Conclusion: Scorpion envenomation in children is a significant environmental health hazard especially in rural areas. Scorpion envenomation is an acute lifethreatening emergency, and recovery from scorpion sting is hastened by administration of prazosin therapy with excellent prognosis without use of scorpion antivenom