Pediatric scorpionism: a descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective study of predictors of severity.

Abstract

Scorpion envenomation by Tityus carrilloi n. sp. represents a threat to life. Depending on its clinical manifestations, it is classified as mild, moderate or severe. To compare the epidemiological and biochemical characteristics among children with mild, moderate, and severe scorpionism. Descriptive, crosssectional, and retrospective study. The consultations at a tertiary care children's hospital in Santa Fe (Argentina) of children under 15 years of age stung by Tityus carrilloi n. sp. between January 2017 and December 2018 were analyzed. In total, 524 children were included, 81% (421) with local pain and 19% (103) with systemic manifestations. Children with systemic symptoms of scorpionism were younger in age than those with local manifestations (p < 0.001). In the winter, children developed 8 times more systemic manifestations of scorpionism; during the spring, 2.4 times more than during the summer. Out of the 103 hospitalized children, 80 were moderate cases and 23 severe cases. There were no differences between age groups (p = 0.29) or in the delay in receiving the anti-scorpion serum (p = 0.81). The length of hospital stay was longer among severe cases (p < 0.001). WBC and blood glucose levels higher than 30 000 cell/mL and 300 mg/dL, respectively, were present almost exclusively in severe scorpionism cases. In children stung by the scorpion Tityus carrilloi n. sp., the younger the age and during winter and spring, the higher the risk for systemic manifestations. WBC and blood glucose levels were higher in children with severe scorpionism.