Resumenes del II Taller Venezolano - Los escorpiones y sus toxinas - Imunologia, Clinica y tratamiento. Coordinated by Professor Leonardo De Sousa in Maremares Resort, Puerto La Cruz, November 27 to 29, 1997.

EPIDEMIOLOGY, PRACTICE, AND TREATMENT OF SCORPION ENVENOMATION IN MEXICO.

A. Alagón(1), J. A. Maraboto-Martínez(2), A. Chávez-Haro(3)

(1)Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mor. (2)Coordinación de Salud Comunitaria, IMSS, México, D.F. (3)Hospital General deZona No 21, IMSS, León, Gto. México.

Scorpionism is a major public health problem in Mexico. Over 250,000 scorpion envenomations occur every year with hundreds of deaths. In 1994, the Mexican Institute of Public Health (IMSS), which provides medical assistance to approximately 40% of the country’s population, established a series of guidelines and measures to limit the negative impact caused by scorpion envenomation. The experience from over 400,000 cases has given us the epidemiological data for scorpionism in Mexico, the definition of the clinical picture, and the establishment of the appropriate treatment. The author emphasizes the effectiveness and safety of purified F(ab’)2 fragments (Alacramyn®) used in treating over 75% of the envenomations.