Received: July 30, 2007.

Accepted: November 8, 2007.

Abstract published online: November 10, 2007.

Full paper published online: May 31, 2008.

SCORPION STING: A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM IN EL KELAA DES SRAGHNA (MOROCCO)

EL OUFIR R. (1), SEMLALI I. (1), IDRISSI M. (1), SOULAYMANI A. (2), BENLARABI S. (1), KHATTABI A. (1), AIT MOH M. (3), SOULAYMANI BENCHEIKH R. (1)

(1) Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center of Morocco, Rabat Institute, Madinat Al Irfane, Rabat, Morocco; (2) Laboratory of Genetics and Biometrics, Kénitra Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kénitra, Morocco; (3) Medical Delegation of El Kelaa des Sraghna Province Morocco.

ABSTRACT: The present study aimed at verifying the impact of a Moroccan strategy against scorpion stings and specifically at identifying the epidemiological features of patients envenomed or just stung by scorpions. It included 11,907 patients from El Kelaa des Sraghna Province, Morocco, who were evaluated over five years (2001–2005). Most stings occurred during the hot period and mainly at night. The average incidence was 3.2 per 1,000 inhabitants; patients 15 years accounted for 34%, and the envenomation rate was 12%. Average lethality rate was 0.7%. Our work evaluated the efficacy of the adopted strategy based on indicators of follow-up, morbidity and lethality due to scorpion sting and envenomation.

KEY WORDS: epidemiology, scorpions, strategy, indicators, El Kelaa, Morocco.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

RHIZLANE EL OUFIR, Centre Anti Poison et de Pharmacovigilance du Maroc, Rue Lamfedel Cherkaoui, Rabat Institut, Madinat Al Irfane. BP 6671, Rabat 10100, Maroc. Fax number: +212 37 77 74 68. Email: eloufir17@yahoo.fr.