|
Poster 179. Congresso da Sociedade Brasileira de Toxinologia, 8., Symposium of the Pan American Section of the International Society on Toxinology, 8., 2004, Angra dos Reis, Brasil. Abstracts... J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl.Trop. Dis., 2004, 10, 3, p.538. |
Scorpion Envenoming in Two Regions of Colombia. Clinical, Epidemiological and Therapeutic Aspects.
1,2Otero, R.; 1Navío, E.; 3Céspedes, F.A.; 4Núñez, M.J.; 5García, J.; 6Fernández, D.; 7Rodas, J.H.; 1Rodríguez, O.J.; 1Gómez, J.P.; 1Saldarriaga, M.; 1Quintana, J.C.; 1Núñez, V.; 1Cárdenas, S.; 1Barona, J.; 1Valderrama, R.; 1Paz, N.; 1Díaz, A.; 8Paniagua, J.; 9Flórez, E.; 10Lourenço, W.R. and the Regional Group on Antivenom Therapy Research (REGATHER).
1 Programa de Ofidismo/ Escorpionismo y 2 Depto. de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín. 3 Clínica del ISS y Hospital Federico Lleras, Ibagué. 4 Sanidad Militar, Base Aérea, Melgar. Hospitales de 5 Mutatá, 6 Necoclí, 7 Santa Fé de Antioquia. 8 Instituto Bioclón S.A. de C. V., México. 9 Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional, Bogotá. 10 Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, París, France.
To determine the clinical and epidemiological features of scorpion stings in two departments of Colombia, a descriptive study was performed in the hospitals of 10 towns from Antioquia (2 256 071 inhabitants) and five from Tolima (630 424 inhabitants). One hundred and twenty-nine cases were admitted during one year (2000 – 2001), 41 (31.8%) in children less than 15 years old, 51 (39.5%) in Antioquia and 78 (60.5%) in Tolima. Most stings (70.5%) occurred inside the house, 27.9% on the hands and 26.4% on the feet. Scorpion species involved in the accidents were Tityuspachyurus (51), Centruroidesgracilis (31), T. fuehrmanni (29), T. asthenes (7), and Chactasspp (1). In 10 cases (7.8%) the scorpion involved was not identified. Systemic envenoming signs (e.g. vomiting, tachypnea) were significantly more frequent in children than in adults (p < 0.05). Four (3.1%) children had hypertension, but none developed pulmonary oedema. One girl three years old, stung by T. asthenes, had acute oedematous pancreatitis. Ninety-eight patients (76.0%) had mild envenoming. Moderate (27 cases = 20.9%) and severe (four patients = 3.1%) envenomings were significantly more frequent in children than in adults (p = 0.003; RR = 2.97). A pepsin-digested (Fabotherapic) anti-Centruroides spp antivenom (Alacramyn®, Instituto Bioclón, México), tested previously in mice against scorpion venoms from Colombia, was administered to 19 of 31 patients presenting systemic envenoming signs. No adverse reactions to antivenom were observed and there were neither deaths nor sequelae.
Correspondence to: rafaotero@epm.net.co