Scorpion sting in children in the Jerusalem area: a review of 54 cases

Summary

Fifty-four children from the Jerusalem area were studied prospectively following scorpion envenoming. Their ages ranged from 11 months to 10 years. Severe symptoms (convulsions, brain oedema, shock, respiratory distress and myocarditis) were encountered in 19. Respiratory distress was the main feature in 17 of the children, in two cases owing to pulmonary oedema and in a third because of adult respiratory distress syndrome and myocarditis; mechanical ventilation was required in three cases. The severity of the symptoms and signs was not related to sex, age, weight, interval between scorpion sting and admission or to the type of offending scorpion; it was most likely dependent upon the susceptibility of the individual and/or the dose of venom injected by the scorpion. Intravenous anti-venom quickly reversed the symptoms, and no side-effects were seen in the patients studied. The two patients who died had not received the antivenom intravenously. We recommend that specific anti-venom should be given intravenously in all children who show significant symptoms. Furthermore, a longer period of observation is necessary following scorpion sting in this age group.