A STUDY OF SCORPION ACCIDENTS IN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT, BRAZIL, FROM 1991 TO 2000

YOSHIZAWA, M.A.C.(1), CALDAS, E.D.(2)

(1)Diretoria, Vigilância Ambiental, SAIN, Estrada do Contorno do Bosque, Lote 4, (2)Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário, Brasília, DF, Brazil.

The urbanization of the Federal District has increased the number of accidents caused by scorpions in recent years. From 1991 to 2000, the Division of Environmental Vigilance received 4,526 requests for community visitis related to the presence of scorpions and there were 1,346  notifications of accidents. In this study, 977 of these notifications were investigated. The accidents occurred predominantly (93.5%)  in the urban zone, mostly during the rainy season (59.4%). The North Lake and South Lake regions accounted for the highest incidences, with 34.2 and 33.9 accidents per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Tityus serrulatus, Tityus fasciolatus and Bothriurus araguayae were the species identified in the accidents. The number of male and female victims involved in these accidents  was similar.  Most of the accidents (45.4%)  involved individuals between 20 and 40 years,  with stings mainly on the hands (34.5%) and feet (24.4%). In the urban zone, approximately 67% of the people stung received medical care within 3 h after the accident, whereas in the rural zone, this time was greater than 3 h in 51.7% of the cases. Most of the cases (96.1%)  were classified as low severity and no severe accident was reported.  Analgesics represented the treatment most used in individuals of all ages and accounted for 62.5% of the 550 prescriptions. Antihistamines and antiinflammatory drugs, frequently prescribed for the treatment of low severity accidents, are not recommended by the Brazilian health authorities.  The correlation between the number of accidents and the community visits requested in this study provides an important basis for the implementation of control and educational programs in areas of potential risk in order to reduce the occurrence of these accidents in the Federal District.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

Maria Amélia Cavalcanti Yoshizawa, SQN 116 Bloco F, Apto 512, Brasília, DF, CEP: 70773060, Brasil, Email: amelia@abordo.com.br