Scorpion vs. Spider Bite Identifcation

It’s happened to all of us. You feel a sudden pinch or sting, and you look down to find that you’ve become the latest victim of a hit-and-run bug bite. Since some bites can be serious, not knowing what attacked you is frightening. Here are tips for recognizing and handling four of the most common and worrisome bites or stings.

Bee Stings

Bee stings can be quite painful, but they’re only dangerous to people who are allergic to bee venom. Most people simply develop a small red bump and a local reaction that may include redness, swelling, itching and pain. If a person with a known bee allergy is stung, it’s important to get emergency medical treatment immediately since a single bee sting can quickly cause anaphylactic shock. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and low blood pressure.

Spider Bites

Although most spider bites are relatively harmless, a few spiders release a toxic venom that can make their victims very sick. The appearance of spider bites varies. After a day or so, many develop blisters or a rash that extends outward. Infection is common, and sometimes spider bites are misdiagnosed as boils. Redness, swelling, itching and pain are common. If you experience symptoms of a poisonous spider bite such as joint pain, stiffness, muscle cramps, fever, chills, stomach pain, nausea, difficulty breathing, dizziness, trouble speaking or convulsions, seek medical help immediately. If increasing discoloration of skin or worsening pain around the bite occurs after a day or so, see a doctor.

Fire Ant Stings

Fire ants tend to sting more than once. Fire ant stings often appear as small, red bumps in a circular pattern. They’re intensely painful, but unless you’re allergic, they usually only produce minor local reactions. The area around a sting may swell or itch, and small, cloudy blisters may form. If signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, chest pain, headache, sweating, nausea or faintness occur, seek emergency medical treatment at once.

Scorpion Stings

Of the many scorpions in Arizona, only the bark scorpion poses a serious health threat. Most scorpion stings produce immediate pain, tingling, numbness, redness, itching and minimal swelling. Ice and antihistamines may help relieve discomfort. If you’re the victim of a bark scorpion, you may develop symptoms in other parts of your body. These include numbness and tingling, uncoordinated movements, slurred speech, muscle twitching, hyperactivity, increased blood pressure and heart rate, vomiting, sweating and blurred vision. If these symptoms occur, seek emergency medical treatment immediately.

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Athens, GA Spider Bites and Scorpion Stings

There are thousands of types of spiders. All spider bites are poisonous, but usually they are not dangerous to people. Most spiders have too little poison (toxin) to cause a dangerous reaction. Many are too small to be able to break your skin with their fangs. Only a few spiders cause dangerous bites.

Because most spider bites are not dangerous, the bites usually do not need medical treatment.

There are about 40 different types of scorpions in the southwestern part of the US. Just 1 of these types has a sting that can be lethal.

Spiders and scorpions in the US whose bites or stings can be serious are the:

What is a black widow spider?

A black widow spider is a shiny, black spider with a fat body and a red or orange hourglass figure on its underside. It is about an inch long, including the legs. It is found in most parts of the US. It is often found in woodpiles, sheds, fruit and vegetable gardens, garages, and outdoor toilets. The bite of the female spider is more serious than the bite of a male spider.

What is a brown recluse spider?

The brown recluse spider is also called a brown, fiddleback, or violin spider. It has long brown legs and a dark brown, violin-shaped spot on its head. It is about 1/2 inch long, including the legs. This spider is most active at night and is found in cracks, crevices, basements, attics, and dark closets of houses in the Midwestern and southern parts of the US. It may also be found outdoors in piles of rock, leaves, or wood.

What is the hobo spider?

The hobo spider is brown with grey markings. Found in the northwestern US, it is seen more often in midsummer and fall. The hobo spider likes dark, moist places such as basements, crawl spaces, and woodpiles.

What is a scorpion?

Scorpions are related to spiders. They have a long body and a tail that curls up when they are about to sting. There are over 1200 species of scorpions worldwide and over 40 species in the US. Only the bark scorpion has a sting that is dangerous unless you are allergic to scorpions. The bark scorpion can be found in junk and wood piles and in rocky areas in the southwestern US.

What are the symptoms of a spider bite or scorpion sting?

There are 3 main types of reactions to spider bites or scorpion stings:

• local reaction to the venom (affecting just the area of the bite), causing redness and other mild symptoms  

• local allergic reaction causing allergic symptoms in the area of the bite, such as itching  

• systemic allergic reaction (affecting the whole body and potentially life-threatening), causing throat swelling and trouble breathing.  

At first the symptoms of a poisonous spider bite or scorpion sting are similar to the symptoms of nonpoisonous spider bites or scorpion stings:

• minor pain or soreness around the wound  

• tiny red bite or sting mark  

Symptoms of a more serious spider bite or scorpion sting causing a systemic allergic reaction may include:

• severe pain at the site of the bite  

• itching of the nose, throat, and mouth  

• wheezing or trouble breathing  

• muscle cramps starting in the muscles around the bite and then spreading to other muscles  

• abdominal pain or cramps  

• eye sensitivity to light  

Symptoms of a minor spider bite usually go away in 2 to 3 days. If symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop within 10 minutes to several hours after a bite or sting, see your Reddy Urgent Care healthcare provider or go to the emergency room right away.

How is it diagnosed?

Your Reddy Urgent Care healthcare provider will examine you, ask about your symptoms, and ask if you saw the spider or scorpion. There are many things that can cause a reaction that looks like a spider bite or sting. Other causes of the rash or reaction need to be ruled out, such as:

• allergic reaction to something else  

• anxiety or panic attack  

• infection (viral or bacterial)  

• blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis).  

• ingrown hairs and other causes of skin abscesses.  

How should I treat a spider bite or scorpion sting?

Self care for a minor bite or string that causes just a local reaction is as follows:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds before you touch the area.  

• Wash the bite twice a day with mild soap and water unless your provider tells you to do something else.  

• When you are cleaning the bite, look for signs of infection such as increased swelling, redness, red streaks going away from the wound towards your heart, and any drainage.  

• Keep the area of the bite clean and dry.  

• Put ice or cold, moist washcloths on the bite to keep the swelling down.  

• Put a nonprescription hydrocortisone cream on the skin to reduce the itching.  

• Take nonprescription antihistamines, such as Benadryl, Zyrtec, or Claritin.  

• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol?) or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen (Motrin?, Advil?) or naproxen (Aleve?, Naprosyn?) to help decrease pain.  

• Watch for 24 hours for symptoms of a systemic reaction.  

• Check with your healthcare provider to make sure that your tetanus shots are up to date.  

• If you can, safely catch the spider or scorpion in a jar, in case you need to find out what kind of spider or scorpion it is.  

To care for a more serious bite:

• At first treat it like a local reaction as described above.  

• Put a large soft bandage over the bite.  

• Try not to move the area where you were bitten (keep it resting).  

• Put ice on the wound to slow absorption of the toxin.  

• If you are having any of the more serious symptoms, contact your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Try to take the spider or scorpion with you for identification.  

Some bites and stings, like a black widow bite, can cause symptoms that worsen for the first 24 hours. In this case, you may need to be observed in the hospital during that time.

Call 911 or have someone take you to the closest hospital emergency department right away if:

• You start to have trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, develop hives, feel very weak or light headed, or feel tightness in your throat.  

Come to Reddy Urgent Care right away if:

You start to have any signs or symptoms of infection. These include:  

• The skin is becoming redder or more painful.

• You have red streaks from the abscess going toward your heart.  

• The wound area is very warm to touch.  

• You have pus or other fluid coming from the wound area.  

• You have a fever higher than 101.5? F (38.6? C) orally.  

• You have chills, nausea, vomiting, or muscle aches. 

• Your symptoms are getting worse, not better.  

• You have a question about whether your bite or sting needs to be treated.  

• You have any symptoms that worry you.  

What will Reddy Urgent Care do?

• You may get a tetanus booster shot if the skin is broken and infection develops.  

• You may be given a nonprescription pain reliever, such as aspirin or acetaminophen.  

• You may be given steroid medicine in a vein (IV).  

• You may be given a shot of calcium gluconate to help with severe muscle pain.  

What is anti-venom?

Anti-venom is a type of medicine given to stop the effects of the spider or scorpion poison. It is formed from horse blood. Most venom is absorbed completely after only 30 minutes, so anti-venom must be given as soon as possible. It is given only to people who are having severe symptoms. One in 10 patients given anti-venom have a severe reaction to it.

How long will the effects of a spider bite or scorpion sting last?

Local reactions last 7 to 10 days. They are usually minor and go away without complications in a few days.

More severe bites can cause more pain, fever, and muscle aches for a few days and more serious injury to your skin. Some bites may cause blisters to form within the first 15 to 36 hours. Within a day after they form, the blisters open and ooze, causing a sore. The venom may cause the skin and underlying tissue around the bite to die. The skin usually turns dark and a small hole may develop in the skin. Bites that cause the skin to die in an area need to be followed up closely. In some cases, when large areas of skin are lost, skin grafts are needed to repair the wound.

How can I prevent spider bites or scorpion stings?

To avoid getting bitten or stung by a poisonous spider or scorpion:

• Use traps indoors. Traps are usually sticky surfaces that trap the spiders or scorpions. They are the safest and most effective way to control spiders or scorpions inside your home. If you have a serious infestation, you should seek the advice of a pest control service to learn if there is a safe yet effective pesticide that will kill the spiders or scorpions.  

• Wear gloves, long pants, heavy clothing, and socks stretched over your pants when you are around wood piles, rock piles, or dark corners of outdoor buildings.  

• Spray insecticides in any area where black widow or brown recluse spiders are seen.  

• Wear gloves when you are gardening or working in the basement or attic.  

• Inspect and shake outdoor clothing and shoes before putting them on.  

• Check your shoes before you put them on.  

• Pull back and check the bed linens before going to bed.  

• Inspect outdoor toilets carefully before using them.  

• Do not go barefoot or wear open sandals around areas where scorpions may be.  

• Discourage children from playing near spider and scorpion-infested areas.  

• Young children and the elderly are the most likely to get sick from spider bites and scorpion stings. You may need to help them take the

Bites and Stings — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Being bitten by a wild animal in the field is very rare. But if you are bitten and skin is broken, wash wound with soap and water. Apply pressure to control bleeding.

If the attack was unprovoked, consider the possibility of rabies. Notify authorities as soon as possible. Seek medical attention if needed.

Bees and Wasps

If you are stung by a bee or wasp, remove the stinger, wash with soap and water, cover and keep clean, apply a cold pack for 15-20 minutes to reduce swelling. Relieve pain with aspirin or other pain reliever and relieve itching with a cortisone cream.  Some people are very allergic to bee stings. Call 9-1-1 if the person has any trouble breathing or exhibits signs of anaphylaxis, such as swelling of the face throat or tongue, dizziness, a rash or hives, low blood pressure or shock. Many times individuals are aware of their allergy and carry an Epinephrine Auto Injector which is injected into the person’s outer thigh. Mild allergic reactions (moderate swelling) can be treated with antihistamines, such as Benadryl.

Scorpions and Centipedes

The Centruroides vittatus scorpion is found throughout Texas and often under rocks or boards and other litter. Scorpions are active mostly at night. Similar to a bee sting, the sting from a scorpion causes pain and local swelling but usually is not serious except for rare instances of allergy for which medical attention should be sought. Centipedes have poison claws located directly under the jaws. Centipedes prefer moist or humid areas like basements and cellars. The House Centipede Scutigera coleopteran, lives primarily indoors and eats small insects.  Their bite is similar to a bee sting, but because allergic reactions can occur, it is advised to consult medical care in the event of more serious symptoms.

Spiders

There are almost 900 species of spiders in Texas. Spiders eat insects and other arthropods and most are very beneficial.

Tarantula

Tarantulas are common in Texas. Though they look scary and their bite can be painful, it is not deadly. Only 2 groups of spiders in Texas are considered poisonous to humans.

Black Widow Spider

Black Widow spiders, Latrodectus mactans, are found all across the United States. It prefers protected cavities outdoors, often in portable toilets, abandoned sheds, cellars and other undisturbed places. It is the only shiny black spider (males and juveniles may show more color) and has a red hourglass pattern on the underside of its abdomen. Only the female is dangerous to humans. The bite feels like a pin prick or may not be felt. There may be slight local swelling and two faint red spots surrounded by local redness at the bite. Pain may become intense within one to three hours and may continue up to 48 hours. Pain usually localizes in the abdomen and back. There may be pain in the muscles and soles of the feet, and eyelids may become swollen. Other symptoms include nausea, profuse perspiration, tremors, labored breathing and speech, and vomiting. During this time, a feeble pulse, cold clammy skin, unconsciousness, convulsions and even death may result if the victim does not receive medical attention immediately. Additional complications may occur due to the infection of the bite. Bites are uncommon and serious long-term complications or death is rare. Those at most risk of serious reaction to Black Widow venom are small children and older persons. Seek immediate medical attention if bitten.

Brown Recluse Spider

So named for its shy nature, the Brown Recluse spider, Loxosceles recluse, tends to hide during the day and is most active at night. It lives in and around buildings in warm, dry places, like closets, barns, etc. Shake out shoes first before putting them on. It is small, between ¼ inch and ½ inch. Often called “the fiddleback” spider because of the design of a violin on its back between the eyes and the abdomen, the spider’s venom causes death and decay of the tissue surrounding the site of the bite. The bite may not be felt immediately but pain can develop in the area after an hour or more. Seek immediate medical attention if bitten.

Dog Tick

Tick-borne diseases

Infected ticks can spread several diseases that can make humans very sick. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be spread by several ticks, including the dog tick and wood tick. Symptoms appear after 2 to 14 days after a bite and include: nausea, fever, vomiting, muscle aches or pain, severe headache and loss of appetite. Seek immediate medical attention. If left untreated Rock Mountain spotted fever can be life threatening. Treatment is usually with antibiotics and patients in most cases recover fully.

Black Legged Tick

Once rare, Lyme disease is spreading across the United States. It is spread by the black legged tick and the deer tick. Signs of infection may appear within a few days or up to a few weeks after a bite. Usually a rash begins as a small red area around the bite and spreads. Sometimes there is no rash, but a bull’s eye target looking area may appear. Symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, and joint and muscle pain. Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose and get worse if left untreated. Seek immediate medical attention if you think you may have Lyme disease. Early detection and treatment are keys to a full recovery. Antibiotics will be prescribed and are usually very effective.

Poison Plants

Some plants are poisonous or have poisonous fruit. Never eat any plant in the wild unless you are completely certain it is safe. Coming into contact with poisonous plants, such as poison ivy, poison sumac, or poison oak, can lead to very irritating rashes. If you come in contact with a poisonous plant, remove the exposed clothing and wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water as soon as possible. Thoroughly wash clothing and your hands after handling them. Calamine lotions and antihistamines may help healing. If the condition worsens, seek medical attention.

Bug Bites and Stings (for Parents)

What’s the difference between insect bites and insect stings? A bite is when an insect (like a mosquito, flea, or bedbug) uses its mouth to break a person’s skin, usually so it can feed. Insect bites usually itch. A sting is when an insect uses another body part, such as a barbed stinger at its tail end, to pierce the skin and inject venom (like a poison). They usually do this in self-defense. Stings are more painful than bites.

Bites and stings usually are just annoying, causing temporary discomfort and pain, but no serious or lasting health problems. Sometimes, though, they can cause infections that need quick medical treatment and allergic reactions that can be serious, even fatal.

So parents should know the signs of an infection or allergic reaction, and when to get medical care. Tell all caregivers if a child has any history of problems so they know what to do if a child gets a bite or sting.

Find out more about:

How Can We Prevent Bites and Stings?

Here are some ways to protect your family from insect bites and stings:

• Avoid mosquito bites by staying away from areas where mosquitoes breed, such as still pools or ponds, during hot weather. Remove standing water from birdbaths, buckets, etc. Try to stay inside when mosquitoes are most active (dawn and dusk). Apply insect repellent when kids go outside.
• When in tick country, stay in the center of trails, avoiding woody areas with high grass. Check kids for ticks every few hours and as soon as you come inside. Remove any you find right away. The most important places to check are behind the ears, on the scalp, on the back of the neck, in the armpits, in the groin area, and behind the knees. Have kids shower as soon as they come in from outdoors. Check your pets when they come inside too. Use tick products on pets to prevent them from bites.
• Use insect repellent when spending time outdoors camping, hiking, etc. Repellents that contain 10% to 30% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) are approved for mosquitoes, ticks, and some other bugs. Repellents that contain picaridin (KBR 3023) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-menthane 3,8-diol or PMD) are effective against mosquitoes. Follow the instructions carefully. Check what ages the product is appropriate for, and don’t overuse it — using more than is needed won’t provide any extra protection. Reapply insect repellent according to the directions after swimming.
• When you or your kids are in wooded areas, tuck clothes in and keep as covered up as possible. Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants. Wear shoes and socks when walking on grass, even it’s just for a minute. Bees and wasps can sting unprotected feet.
• Wear gloves when gardening.
• Don’t disturb bee or wasp nests.
• Don’t swat at buzzing insects — they will sting if they feel threatened.
• Be aware that spiders might be hiding in undisturbed piles of wood, seldom-opened boxes, or corners behind furniture, and proceed with caution.
• Prevent flea infestations by treating your house (including all carpets, furniture, and pets) regularly during the warmer months. Vacuuming often also can help.

First aid for bites and stings

Serious allergic reactions occur in approximately 2 per cent of stings from ants, bees and wasps. Symptoms such as swelling of the face, lips and tongue, breathing difficulties or a generalised rash are potentially life-threatening and require urgent medical attention.

Insects

Bee stings

Remove the sting by scraping, never squeeze the site. Wash the area and apply antiseptic cream. Keep the sting site rested, elevated and cool. Local swelling and irritation may last for several days.

Wasp and hornet stings

These do not leave a sting behind. Treat the area as for bee stings.

Ant and other insect bites

Treat as for bee stings.

Scorpions

Scorpion stings can be very painful and the pain may persist for several hours. Local redness and numbness often occur. Wash the sting site; apply antiseptic and apply a cool pack. Give pain killers such as paracetamol. Australian scorpions do not cause severe symptoms.

Centipedes

Apply antiseptic to the bite site. Local redness, itching and pain are common. Severe pain is sometimes experienced.

Fire ant stings

Apply a cold compress to relieve the swelling and pain. Wash the affected area with soap and water. Immediately seek medical attention if you are allergic to insect stings or have symptoms of allergy. Read more about fire ant stings.

Spiders

Red-back spider (Lactrodectus)

Red-back spider

Wash the bite site, apply antiseptic and a cool pack. In the majority of cases only minor pain and redness occur. In 25 per cent of cases, severe pain and other symptoms such as sweating, headache, vomiting and muscle pain develop over the first few hours. Take the victim to hospital if there are severe symptoms.

White-tailed spider (Lampona)

There is no clear scientific evidence that bites from these spiders cause skin ulceration. Treat as for bites from all other spiders.

Spiders – all other

Wash the bite site, apply antiseptic and see your doctor if signs of local infection develop.

(This information only applies to the regions of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.)

Marine

Jellyfish (non-tropical)

Apply vinegar or Stingose then shower in hot water for at least 15 minutes.

Blue-ringed octopus

Muscle paralysis with breathing difficulties can occur within minutes of the bite. The bite may not be painful. Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage, perform mouth to mouth resuscitation as required and seek urgent medical help.

Fish stings

Western tiger snake

Immerse the sting site in hot water (as hot as can be tolerated for at least 30 minutes). Get medical help for severe pain or if the pain is not relieved by the hot water.

Snake bites

Treat all bites, including suspected bites, as potentially life threatening. Get urgent medical/ambulance assistance. Phone 000 for an ambulance.

• Do not wash, squeeze or puncture the bite site.
• Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage.
• Keep the victim calm and still.
• Do not give food or alcohol.
• Do not allow the victim to walk.
• Bites to the head and body must be bandaged as firmly as possible.

Do not attempt to catch or kill the snake.

Bandaging a bitten leg

This bandaging technique should also be used for blue-ringed octopus bites.

Where to get help

For a snake bite, or if the victim has collapsed or has stopped breathing, do not delay, phone 000 for an ambulance.

Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (24 hours a day).

Acknowledgements

WA Poisons Information Centre

This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

Scorpion Sting – an overview

Human

Most scorpion stings produce a local tissue reaction that is characterized by mild to moderate burning pain. Usually there is minimal swelling and erythema. In the United States, this is the limit of the reaction following stings of relatively benign scorpions such as Vejovis, Hadrurus, and several other common scorpion species. Occasionally, infections may complicate the clinical course of the sting. Rarely, acute hypersensitivity reactions may occur.

The more poisonous C. exilicauda may produce systemic symptoms following significant envenomation. However, even these scorpions often produce only pain and other localized reaction at the sting site. These minor envenomations are more common in adults than children. When systemic symptoms do develop, they can include increased heart rate, hypertension, dilated pupils, sweating, and hyperglycemia. Also, salivation, tearing, diarrhea, bradycardia, and respiratory compromise may develop when parasympathetic nerve stimulation predominates from acetylcholine release. Other clinical effects include blurred vision, nystagmus, oculomotor effects, opisthotonus, muscle fasciculations, convulsions, breathing difficulty, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrhythmias. Young children, the elderly, and those with preexisting cardiovascular disease are at greater risk for severe systemic toxicity from scorpion envenomation.

Occasionally, poisonous exotic species make their way out of their endemic areas either by illegal importation or along with agricultural product shipments from abroad. Signs and symptoms following envenomation vary depending on the species of scorpion involved. A few of these scorpions that have caused life-threatening effects and fatalities in their endemic countries include the following:

Androctonus australis (yellow fattail scorpion): Diaphoresis, hypertension, vomiting, cardiogenic shock, and pulmonary edema. Envenomations from this scorpion have resulted in many fatalities in North Africa

Buthotus tamulus (Indian red scorpion): Diaphoresis, vomiting, facial swelling, hypertension, tachycardia, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, left ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary edema.

Leiurus quinquestriatus (deathstalker scorpion): Hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary edema.

Tityus serrulatus: Noncardiac pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Danger of Tarantula Bites and Scorpion Stings

The Full Story

Tarantulas and scorpions, the stuff of nightmares, are loathed by many and admired by some. Popular in Hollywood movies and YouTube videos, these desert dwellers also have starring roles in Zuni Native American and Greek mythologies. Both tarantulas and scorpions have received their fair share of negative press in Internet folklore resulting in exaggerated and inaccurate concerns about their danger to humans.

Tarantulas can be found throughout the US with many species living in the dry areas of the western states. Scorpions can be found in warm climates throughout the world, but in the US their habitat is primarily the Southwest desert areas. Both tarantulas and scorpions are arachnids as are ordinary spiders. They have an outside shell instead of an inside skeleton, segmented bodies, and 4 pairs of legs. Tarantulas have 8 eyes, are large and hairy, and have fangs. Scorpions have a front pair of pinchers and a tail that contains venom sacs and a curved barb (think stinger). Tarantulas bite; scorpions sting.

Tarantulas

While many people are terrified of spiders, tarantulas are sometimes kept as pets. When handled gently, tarantulas pose little risk. When threatened, the spider will bite and can also release a cloud of irritating hairs. The bites usually leave fang marks and are often painful. The pain is described as throbbing and can last for hours. Fever, nausea, and vomiting occur rarely. In general, the effects from tarantula bites are mild. A greater health risk is from contact with the spider’s hairs. Contact of the hairs with the skin causes lots of inflammation including pain, redness, itching, and swelling that can last for weeks. The hairs can also get into the eyes and cause pain, redness, sensitivity to light, and other eye problems. The eye discomfort has been described as like having fiberglass particles in the eye. The hairs can get stuck in the eye for a long time.

There is no antidote for tarantula bites, but the pain can be managed with cool compresses (such as ice packs) and over-the-counter pain relievers (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen). All bites should be washed well with soap and water. Hairs stuck in the skin can be removed using a sticky tape such as duct tape. Inflammatory skin reactions can be managed with topical corticosteroids (such as hydrocortisone cream) and oral antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine). The skin irritation usually responds well to over-the-counter treatments but sometimes requires prescription strength medicines like prednisone or other corticosteroids. Hairs stuck in the eyes might need surgical removal, but sometimes the hairs are so small that removal is difficult. Inflammatory eye reactions can be managed with corticosteroid eye drops.

Scorpions

Scorpions come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. They often blend into their environment during daylight but will glow under a black light at night. The toxicity caused by a scorpion sting differs depending on the kind of scorpion involved. There are several areas of the world where scorpion stings cause serious toxicity. Fortunately, most of the scorpions found in the US are much less dangerous but they can still inflict painful stings. The pain occurs immediately and is often described as stinging or burning, although sometimes a tingling or numb sensation happens. Other possible effects at the sting site include redness, swelling, and a scab. The most dangerous species found in the US is the Centruroides exilicauda (formerly known as Centruroides sculpturatus), commonly called the bark scorpion. This species primarily lives in Arizona but can also be found in parts of California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. In addition to causing a painful sting, the bark scorpion can sometimes cause abnormal muscle activity like muscle twitching, unusual eye movements, slurred speech, or difficulty swallowing and breathing. Agitation, high blood pressure, and changes in heart rate can develop. These effects usually happen quickly, can worsen over a few hours, and can last for several hours. Serious toxicity is typically limited to very young children. Death from a scorpion sting is very rare and has not been reported in the US for almost 50 years.

Treatment for all scorpion stings includes washing the site with soap and water. A tourniquet should never be used. Pain from scorpion stings can usually be managed at home with over-the-counter pain relievers. Initial management of a scorpion sting at home is appropriate even if it is known to be a bark scorpion, but call Poison Control to help you through it. Pain that is not relieved with home treatment or the development of body-wide effects should be managed in an emergency room because prescription pain relievers, muscle relaxants, or other medications might be needed. Antivenom is available in the US to treat serious envenomation from Centruroides species, but life-threatening side effects can happen and it is very expensive and not stocked by many hospitals.

If you suspect someone has been bitten by a tarantula or stung by a scorpion, wash the area well with soap and water, then check the webPOISONCONTROL^® online tool for guidance or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Karen D. Dominguez, PharmD
Certified Specialist in Poison Information

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Evgeny Sergeevich is a polite, attentive, sensitive and interested doctor.The doctor asked me all the questions and asked about my problem. A specialist examined my legs and performed a plantoscopy. As a result, the doctor made his recommendations. And he explained them very clearly. The reception went well. The time was quite enough for me for a consultation.

Danil,

September 15, 2021

Alexander Alekseevich gave me the direction I needed.I got everything I wanted.

Vladimir,

November 21, 2020

I liked everything very much.The doctor is wonderful. If you have any questions, we will definitely come to this clinic. The clinic is very good. The doctor is qualified. The clinic is clean, beautiful, stylish. There are playgrounds for children. We liked.

Lolita,

September 19, 2018

Everything went well, the shoulder was fixed, now it does not hurt.Many thanks to the doctor. Mikhail Viktorovich is very attentive, wrote down all the diagnoses, sent them for tests and wrote out recommendations.

Moderation,

October 10, 2021

Everything went well.Arkady Sergeevich, an experienced surgeon, helped me solve my problem. The doctor performed a small operation on me. Also, the doctor gave the necessary recommendations for me. For myself, as a result of admission, I got health.

Andrey,

07 October 2021

Everything went fine.The doctor made the necessary consultation. Nadezhda Mikhailovna is a good specialist, she devoted enough time to my problem. She explained everything easily. If necessary, I will go to the doctor again.

Novel,

07 October 2021

The doctor has not yet helped me much in solving the problem.Oleg Viktorovich ordered to take tests and that’s it. The reception turned out to be a little senseless. The doctor is neat, attentive. In general, not particularly satisfied with the reception. All the information was explained by a specialist in an accessible way.

Alie,

06 October 2021

The doctor is very nice and friendly with patients.Friendly, makes contact, restrainedly answers all questions. Badri Sashaevich carried out all the necessary procedures and clearly explained all the information. Also, the doctor examined, diagnosed, prescribed medication and sent for a second appointment. There is already a positive trend.

George,

06 October 2021

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IMPROVING TREATMENT TACTICS FOR PATIENTS AFFECTED BY A SCORPION BITE

Akalaev R.N., Rakhimkhodzhaeva S.O., Stopnitsky A.A.
Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical Aid Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is the natural habitat of the Central Asian variegated scorpion (Butus eupeus), which undoubtedly leads to the appearance of victims of its bites. The bite of a Central Asian scorpion is not fatal and rarely leads to serious complications, nevertheless, an acute excruciating pain syndrome develops, as well as signs of general toxic action – nausea, palpitations, headache, dizziness, chills, drowsiness.Scorpion venom is a neurotoxin, promotes the release of histamine, catecholamines and cyclic nucleotides from the depot, which necessitates the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the complex therapy of victims of a scorpion bite.

Purpose of the study: to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug Xefocam in the complex therapy of nociceptive syndrome in patients affected by a scorpion bite.

Materials and Methods: This study included 210 patients admitted to our center in 2008-2010 after being bitten by a scorpion.

Patients were divided into 2 groups:
I group – 110 patients, the complex of traditional measures of which was supplemented by intramuscular injections of Xefocam 1 amp once a day.
Group II – 100 patients who underwent traditional complex drug therapy, which included local novocaine blockade, administration of analgesics, and in some cases, infusion therapy.

Both groups of patients were comparable in terms of sex, age and severity of poisoning.

Results of the study: As a result of the introduction of Xefocam in patients of the main group, within 10-15 minutes there was a significant decrease in pain, and manifestations of general intoxication – nausea, chills, palpitations – also stopped.The total duration of nociceptive syndrome was observed for 8.2 ± 3.4 hours. Locally, we observed a decrease in edema and hyperemia in the area of ​​the bite.

In the patients of the control group, despite repeated novocaine blockade, administration of analgesics, severe pain was noted, which lasted on average 14.8 ± 4.4 hours, which was 1.4 times higher than that of the main group, while manifestations of intoxication and edema persisted in the area of ​​the bite.

Conclusions: the inclusion of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Ksefokam in the complex therapy of patients with scorpion bites, reduces the duration of the pain syndrome, relieves the general manifestations of intoxication.

Scorpioism is … What is Scorpionism?

Scorpionism ( scorpion bite ) – poisoning with a scorpion bite, characterized by pain, edema, paresthesia ^{[1] [2]} .

Etiology

Scorpions ( Scorpiones ) live in countries with warm climates. Reach lengths from 2 to 18 cm.

There is a poisonous sting on the “tail” of the scorpion.

Scorpions can sting during field work, they can crawl into shoes, into houses and sting people.

Scorpions bite 1.2 million per year, 3250 die (0.27%). Out of 1500 scorpion species, 50 are dangerous to humans ^[3] .

Almost all of these deadly scorpions, with the exception of species Hemiscorpius , belong to the family Buthidae . Deadly species of the family Buthidae are included in the genera: Buthus , Parabuthus , Mesobuthus , Tityus , Leiurus , Androctonus and Centruroides .

• Buthus lives in the Mediterranean, from Spain to the Middle East.
• Parabuthus lives in West and South Africa.
• Mesobuthus is found in Asia.
• Buthotus ( Hottentotta ) lives throughout southern Africa to Southeast Asia.
• Tityus is native to Central America, South America and the West Indies.
• Leiurus lives in North Africa and the Middle East.
• Androctonus lives in North Africa to Southeast Asia.
• Centruroides lives in the southern part of the United States, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies ( Centruroides exilicauda lives in California, Centruroides sculpturatus – in Mexico in the state of Sonora and the southwestern United States, primarily in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, and California).

On the territory of the CIS, scorpions are found in the Crimea, the Caucasus and Central Asia.They belong to the following species: Buthus eupeus , Buthus caucasicus , Androctonus crassicauda , Orthochirus scrobiculosus , Liobuthus kessleri , Euscorpius italicus , Euscorpius 4 mingrelicius , Euscorpius mingrelicius

In the countries of the Mediterranean, tropical Africa and the Middle East, scorpions of three species are extremely dangerous: Androctonus australis , the poison of which can be fatal to a child; Buthus quinquestriatus (synonym Leiurus quinquestriatus ) and Androctonus crassicauda , from the poison of which hundreds of children die every year (mortality rate reaches 50%).

In Mexico, a large lethality is recorded from the venom of the scorpion Centruroides suffusus . In South America, the poison of scorpions of the genus Tityus kills up to 25% of those affected.

Scorpion Venom

Scorpion venom contains strong neurotoxins and has a toxic effect on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.

The poison accumulates in the tail of the scorpion, namely in the pear-shaped segment (telson), ending in a needle bent upwards, at the top of which there are two holes of poisonous glands.

The active principle of scorpion venom is neurotoxic polypeptides with a pronounced species specificity ^[5] . Some (insectotoxins) act on insects, while others act on mammals.

There are two main types of poison. The first can kill or paralyze an invertebrate, but for humans it is no more dangerous than a wasp bite. The second can be fatal – it paralyzes the brain, heart nerves and pectoral muscles. In total, about 25 species of scorpions are known that can be dangerous to humans.

Pathogenesis

When bitten by a scorpion, only a slightly painful injection is felt. For several hours, the patient feels mild pain, a painful swelling appears at the site of the bite. Being absorbed into the bloodstream, the poison causes a long-term overexcitation of the nervous system, in which the patient feels anxiety. There may be severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach and anterior abdominal wall, dizziness, spasms of certain muscle groups, uncoordinated movements, salivation, rhinorrhea, hyperhidrosis ^[6] .The bite site swells, turns red, itches, hurts.

Sometimes with a bite in the lower parts of the body, the patient develops bloating, belching, swelling in the groin or armpits. After a while, the patient’s condition worsens. Purulent fluid begins to flow from the eyes, the rectum protrudes outward, the penis and tongue swell, teeth chatter, convulsions appear ^[7] .

In a child, a scorpion bite can cause disturbances in the work of the respiratory center, asthma attacks, convulsions appear.

The bite of a black scorpion causes severe, burning pain in the area of ​​the bite within a few minutes. The pains radiate along the nearby nerve trunk, temporarily subside a little, but then again become unbearable. The victims find no place from the intense pain and suffer greatly. In 20-30 minutes after the bite, pain appears in the area of ​​the tongue and gums. In severe cases, cramps of the fingers and individual muscle groups, trembling of the hands join the pain. Breathing is difficult, suffocation increases, the pressure is lowered.

When a black fat-tailed scorpion bites, the patient always shows signs of severe poisoning. If he is not provided with medical assistance in time, death may occur with symptoms of acute respiratory failure ^[8] .

Treatment

Rank should be quickly cauterized with a hot match to destroy the poison. For medical treatment, the bite site is chipped with 1% solution of novocaine. Prescribe Atropine (0.5-1 ml of 0.1% s / c solution), a-blockers, for example dihydroergotoxin (0.5-1 ml of 0.03% s / c solution).Apply specific antidote serum for tropical scorpion bites ^[9] .

Notes

90,000 5-year-old boy came to his senses, but is still in intensive care

1 צפייה בגלריה

The culprit

(Photo courtesy of the family)

The condition of a 5-year-old boy who was bitten by a poisonous yellow scorpion near the village of Maale Mikhmash improved on September 4 in Benjamin County. He was hospitalized in a serious unconscious state, but by the evening he came to his senses and began to communicate with his parents, who were terribly frightened for the child.

The boy will remain in the children’s intensive care unit of the Jerusalem hospital “Hadassah Har Ha-Tsofim” under the supervision of doctors.

Recall that after the bite he developed an acute allergic reaction, accompanied by convulsions and loss of consciousness. First aid was provided by the paramedic of the Ambulance Service, who lives in the same village as the child. Then a paramedic team came to his aid and took the boy to the hospital.

Already in the emergency room, the boy’s condition was stabilized.He was transferred to the children’s intensive care unit, where the child gradually came to his senses and began to talk with others.

According to Dr. Asam Herdis, who provided the boy with first aid, the child was admitted to them in an unstable condition with acute tachycardia (palpitations) and received the necessary medications. Now his condition has stabilized, although he still needs additional treatment due to respiratory instability.

What to do if you or a person next to you have been bitten by a scorpion

Head of the Assuta Hospital Children’s Reception, Dr. Hagar Gur-Soferman warns that you should never decide for yourself whether a snake or a scorpion that stung a child is dangerous.”After being bitten by a scorpion or snake, be sure to calm the victim, cool the bite site and do not try to remove the poison yourself, but go to the hospital for professional help as soon as possible,” she said, about which Vesti has already written.

There are 20 species of scorpions in Israel, 2 of them can be life threatening. These are the yellow scorpion (Leiurus hebraeus), which lives throughout the country, and the fat-tailed androctonus (Androctonus crassicauda), distributed from the Upper Galilee to the Negev and Arava.The color of a scorpion, yellow or black, does not indicate the degree of danger – both can be dangerous. A scorpion bite, even if it is not life threatening, is very painful, and it is difficult to determine the species of this arachnid on the ground. Therefore, for each case of a bite, seek urgent medical attention.

How to avoid being bitten when going out into the countryside

Scorpions hide in holes and cracks in the soil, as well as under rocks and tree bark. It is advisable to go out into nature in long trousers and closed shoes, do not stick your hands into the cracks of the rocks and not turn over stones.After spending the night on the terrain, it is worth checking your things – turning your shoes over, shaking out your sleeping bags. If you see a scorpion, you need to stay away from it yourself and take other people and pets away. Don’t try to play with the scorpion, catch it, or lift it off the ground.

What is poison made of and how is it dangerous

Scorpion venom contains cardiotoxin (damaging the cardiovascular system) and neurotoxin (damaging the nervous system). The bite causes an increased release of neurotransmitters, which affects different body systems.In most cases, the bite is very painful but not life threatening. At the same time, bites of a yellow scorpion and androctonus of a thick-tailed can be fatal, while the degree of threat to children is higher.

Local symptoms of the bite: severe pain, redness, swelling and local allergic reaction.

Possible general symptoms: muscle cramps, cramps, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, increased mucus secretion, sweating, watery eyes, confusion, shortness of breath and erection.Symptoms depend on which body systems are affected by the poison. A general reaction can appear after a few hours, so it is very important to seek medical attention in a timely manner.

What to do after a scorpion bite

First, calm the victim, then fix the bitten limb and cool it. You cannot apply a tourniquet (Hasam-Orkim) or take any other measures to extract the poison.

It is important to bring the bitten person to the hospital as soon as possible for treatment and observation.If necessary, he will be given analgesics and medications to support the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, in rare cases, an anti-scorpion serum is injected.

Most scorpions are not life threatening, but their bites are very painful, so be careful when walking in nature.

The article contains the advice of the organization “Midaat” – a public organization for the prevention of diseases.

Scorpion sting. Emergency Handbook

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Bee sting, wasps, bumblebees

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90,000 Scorpion sting: symptoms and first aid

Scorpion bite: symptoms, first aid and treatment

The scorpion family has about 2 thousand species. But only fifty of them are dangerous to humans.Some species are considered to be some of the most poisonous creatures on the planet. These arachnids are similar to crayfish: they have four pairs of legs, two claws and a tail behind their back, on which a stinger is located. The length of the body ranges from 2 to 18 centimeters.

Scorpions can be found in Southern Europe, Central Asia, Crimea, America and the Caucasus. The most dangerous scorpion is Leiurus quinquestriatus, which lives in North Africa and the Middle East.

Since these creatures live mainly in hot countries, going to soak up the sun, you need to be extremely careful.Scorpions are active at night. During the day, these arthropods hide under stones in the soil. A person is usually not attacked. They can bite, defending themselves, or as a result of fright.

A timely recognized bite of this scorpion can save life, because the poison of some species is especially dangerous. Poisoning with him is called scorpionism.

Bite symptoms

Scorpion venom is a specific neurotoxic polypeptide that has the property of destroying nerve cells and brain tissue, causing allergic reactions and stimulating the release of stress hormones.There are two types of this substance as perceived by humans.

One of them is equated to a bee sting. This is how red-brown or yellow scorpions sting. The other is much more dangerous, as it can cause paralysis of vital organs and systems. This poison is inherent in black individuals.

A scorpion bite is hard to miss. It looks like the painful prick .

Accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Burning pain in the area of ​​the bite. Its strength is directly proportional to the degree of poisonousness of the scorpion;
• the occurrence of edema and redness of the skin.If the poison is weak – at the site of the lesion, strong – the swelling spreads further. Sometimes there is the appearance of bubbles with a clear liquid at the site of the lesion;
• Feeling of numbness gradually spreading from the injection site. The scale depends on the strength of the poison;
• Cramps of individual muscles or cramps involving the whole body;
• nausea, vomiting, abdominal and abdominal pain;
• headaches, dizziness;
• pain in the throat, active salivation, which indicates intoxication of the body;
• tachycardia, loss of consciousness in severe cases.

General restlessness may occur when bitten by a scorpion. This is due to the overexcitation of the nervous system, which is caused by the action of the poison. Sometimes there is a reverse reaction – lethargy.

First aid

It is very important to react in time to a scorpion bite, since it is not known how poisonous it will turn out to be. If it is clear that a non-hazardous species was the culprit, immediate assistance is not needed.

After a while, everything will go away by itself.In other cases, passivity can cost life.

If you do not have to wait for immediate medical attention, you can prevent or slow down the effects of the poison as follows:

After providing first aid, the patient must be taken to a medical facility, as further treatment may be required.It is necessary to see a doctor who will determine the severity of the effects of the poison.

Water scorpion bite. Symptoms and first aid

One of the namesake of the scorpion is the water scorpion. This is a bug that lives in reservoirs with little mobile water. This insect got its name because of the similarity with the scorpion.

It is because of the external signs that the aquatic inhabitant is perceived as his poisonous brother. But, unlike him, a scorpion living in water is not terrible.

It bites painfully, but the injected liquid is absolutely harmless to humans.

However, pain at the site of the bite persists for some time.

Special treatment is usually not required.

But you can remove discomfort and itching by applying cold to the bite site. Also, the affected area is treated with any antiseptic. If itching persists, use antihistamines.

Treatment

No special treatment required for a non-venomous scorpion bite. It is enough to relieve pain with cold or pain relievers, and also to treat the wound.In other cases, non-specific treatment is required:

Consequences of scorpionism

The bite of a non-venomous scorpion leaves no serious consequences.They are limited to small swellings in the affected area, which disappear after a couple of days. In the same area, a slight increase in regional lymph nodes may be observed.

In some cases, the ingestion of a poison (eg a tree scorpion) into the bloodstream causes a severe form of allergy. This can be fatal. Also, improving the general condition does not always mean recovery. Relapse may occur with aggravated symptoms. Therefore, the first day it is better to be under the supervision of specialists.

If a poisonous specimen stings, and the appropriate treatment is not applied, everything can end in the death of the patient.

Sometimes long-term consequences persist for some time in the form of paresthesias, numbness of the bitten parts of the body, necrosis in the affected area.

The most dangerous scorpion venom is for children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. The height of the bite also affects the development of poisoning. The lower the affected area, the less likely serious reactions are.

To protect yourself from a scorpion bite, you need to pay attention to prevention in the places where these arachnids live.Especially when relaxing in nature. You need to choose a flat place with further cleansing of stones and debris.

In the morning it is better to check shoes, clothes, linen for the presence of these spiders. Night walks in rocky terrain are also not recommended.

And the main thing: when you see a scorpion, it is better to bypass it and in no case try to catch it!

Scorpion sting: symptoms, first aid, treatment, what to do?

A scorpion sting is a great danger to humans.Scorpio is an insect that belongs to the group of arachnids.

If a person is bitten by a non-venomous species of this insect, then no specific treatment is needed, since the symptoms will disappear on their own after a while. If a poisonous scorpion has bitten, then an urgent need to provide the person with first aid.

What are the symptoms of a scorpion bite? How can you help an injured person? How can complications be avoided? We will deal with all these issues further.

Description

On this tail is a small sac containing poison, as well as a sharp sting, thanks to which the scorpion punctures its victim.In appearance, the scorpion resembles a large crayfish that is common in rivers.

In total, there are more than 1500 species of this insect in the world, but not all scorpions have venom. Only 50 insects have poison that is dangerous to human life.

What is the danger of poison

The following components are present in the composition of a poisonous liquid:

• Antigens – components that are present in the poison, they provoke the development of a strong allergic reaction;
• Neurotoxins are toxic components, under the influence of which the destruction of the tissues of the human brain, as well as the cells of the NA, occurs.
• Other components that negatively affect the work of the heart and provoke the release of the stress hormone (cortisol).

When bitten, a person feels severe pain, so such a bite will definitely not go unnoticed. The bite can be compared to the sting of a wasp, bee or hornet.

After a bite of this insect, the following symptoms begin to appear:

• A person feels severe pain in the place where the bite occurred. The more poisonous a scorpion is considered, the more pain it will experience.
• The skin in the affected area becomes red, there is severe swelling. If the individual is not poisonous, then swelling will be present only in the affected area. If the bite comes from a poisonous scorpion, then even the whole body may swell.
• Numbness of the affected limb occurs. The more toxic substances got into the wound, the more the feeling of “stiffness” is manifested.
• The stomach begins to ache severely, nausea, vomiting develops;
• A person develops a convulsive syndrome, and both individual muscle groups and the entire body can contract;
• The amount of salivary fluid secreted increases, the throat may hurt.A powerful poisoning of the whole organism occurs;
• The heartbeat becomes more frequent, in some cases a person may faint.

If you are bitten by an individual that is not poisonous, then you do not need medical help. Redness and pain at the bite site goes away on its own after 2-3 hours.

If a poisonous scorpion, or an unknown species, has bitten, then first aid should be provided to the injured person as soon as possible.

During the first 5-10 minutes after an arthropod attack, you can cut the affected area and try to remove the poison from there.The squeezing out or suction of the poisonous component is carried out. If the second option is chosen, then the poison must be spat out periodically.

If there is any hot object on hand, you can use it to cauterize the affected area. This action is performed in order to destroy the effect of the poison. After this manipulation, a cool compress should be applied to the wound to reduce soreness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYwfRtbLCKM

The lesion is treated with an antiseptic.If this is not at hand, then the wound is washed with soapy water at room temperature. A tight bandage should be applied to the affected area (slightly above the bitten site) to reduce the spread of the poison through the bloodstream.

The affected skin should be treated with an adrenaline solution (given by injection). This is necessary in order to significantly reduce the absorption of poisons into the bloodstream. Also, this manipulation helps to get more time to take the patient to the hospital.

First aid must be provided as soon as possible! After being bitten by a scorpion, the patient should be taken to the nearest hospital, where treatment will be carried out

Treatment

The first step in the bite of this insect is to provide the patient with complete rest. With high blood pressure and convulsive syndrome, the doctor prescribes medicines that eliminate these symptoms. For 12 hours, the patient does not need to eat absolutely anything.

If the bite was committed by a very poisonous arthropod, the patient is injected with a special serum that destroys the poisonous components.In case of severe poisoning of the body, the patient is provided with assistance in restoring the function of respiration and blood circulation.

They also use anti-shock agents and drugs that prevent dehydration. After the condition of the injured person returns to normal, he is still not discharged from the hospital. Doctors must monitor a person’s condition throughout the day, because in some cases, recurrence of signs of bites of this insect may occur.

Prevention

Most often cases are recorded when scorpions bite children, the elderly and people with low immunity.If a scorpion bites this category of people, the consequences can be very dangerous. If you get poisoned in an area where these insects are common, you need to know:

• Take very seriously when choosing a place to sleep in an open area. Do not choose places where there are a lot of dry trees and stones;
• Arthropods are often buried in the sand, so be sure to wear shoes when going to sandy terrain;
• Be sure to check the tent in which you will spend the night for the presence of scorpions, close the entrance well and tightly;
• Check your clothes and shoes for these insects can get into them;
• Children need to be told that they should never play with scorpions, that they are very dangerous.

In reality, this insect is just a bug. They call him that, because outwardly he is similar to his dangerous brother living on land. The bug is common in stagnant bodies of water; upon contact with a person, it can sting strongly.

In this case, the victim feels severe pain. But no poisons enter the body. When a bug bites, the site of the lesion turns red, the affected area hurts, an allergy may appear.

Conclusions

After an attack by an unknown or poisonous scorpion, you need to provide the person with first aid as soon as possible, and then take him to the hospital.You need to know that some types of these arthropods pose a danger to human life.

When going to areas where scorpions are common, you need to take safety measures.

What to do with a Scorpio bite: First Aid, Consequences

Scorpions are representatives of the Arachnid class. The Scorpio family includes about 2000 species, but only 7-8% of individuals are dangerous to humans. The habitat of poisonous species is tropical and equatorial latitudes.In Russia, you can only find non-venomous individuals in the south of the country.

What to do with a scorpion bite? How to provide first aid? How to protect yourself and your loved ones? This is what will be discussed in our article.

Black scorpion – one of the most poisonous arthropods

Scorpio and its venom

The spread of scorpions in the world

Scorpio never bites a person on purpose. He does this for the purpose of self-defense. If you stepped on a scorpion, crushed it – wait for a response.The ducts of the scorpion’s venom glands open at the tip of a sharp sting located at the end of the tail.

The poison contains a histamine releasing factor, protease inhibitors, neurotoxins, so the bite site will stand out with redness, swelling, pain, local fever and severe itching.

Also, scorpion venom has a muscarinic effect, activates M-cholinergic receptors in the human body.

This is manifested by nausea, vomiting, sweating and salivation, slowing down of the cardiovascular system.

Clinical presentation

The clinical manifestations of a scorpion bite will primarily depend on which species stung you. Upon contact with a non-poisonous scorpion, a sharp stinging pain occurs at the site of the bite, later redness, slight local edema and fever, itching join.

Symptoms persist for 3-5 days, then gradually regress. Sometimes lymphadenitis and lymphangitis (inflammation of regional lymph nodes and blood vessels near the site of the bite) join the above symptoms.

With a poisonous scorpion bite, the clinic is more formidable. Here, generalized symptoms will come first – headache, dizziness, trembling in the limbs, spasmodic twitching of the facial muscles, increased sweating and salivation.

Death can occur due to paralysis of the respiratory and vasomotor centers in the brain stem. There will be severe pain at the site of the bite, accompanied by tingling and numbness of the bite site due to the neurotoxic effect of the poison.Skin manifestations (redness, swelling) will not be expressed.

Inflammation of the lymphatic vessels as a consequence of a scorpion bite

Is a non-venomous scorpion bite fatal?

Yes. There are groups of people for whom such a bite can become fatal. These are children and the elderly, persons with immunodeficiencies, diseases of the heart, blood vessels and the nervous system. Their symptoms will be more pronounced, the poisoning will proceed more rapidly.

Persons with a history of allergy (atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, food allergy) are at risk of developing anaphylactic shock.

This condition is a consequence of the massive release of histamine from the mast cells of the body, and is clinically manifested by a strong drop in blood pressure, bronchospasm, suffocation, loss of consciousness.

In case of untimely assistance, anaphylactic shock is fatal.

Choking is the most dangerous sign of anaphylaxis

Bites to the face and neck area are considered the most dangerous, since these areas are very well supplied with blood, innervated and located in the immediate vicinity of the brain.As we can see, the consequences of a scorpion bite can be different – from minor pain at the site of the bite to death.

Scorpion Sting: Symptoms, First Aid, Consequences and Treatment

Scorpio is an exotic arachnid, similar to crayfish, belonging to the type of arthropod insects, which for many centuries has feared all living things. Its bite is a great danger to humans. up to partial paralysis and death.

Scorpios are very aggressive and poisonous; found mainly in the countries of Southern Europe, Central Asia, America, North Africa, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Crimea.

A special representative of this insect species is the Israeli subspecies of the genus Leiurus quinquestriatus, which translates from Latin as “deadly pursuer”.

Residents and guests of southern countries are most exposed to the risk of being bitten, who first of all should know what such an insect looks like and what kind of life it leads.If in some way a person has received such an injury as a scorpion bite, what to do? How to be saved? What measures should be taken first of all?

Description of the scorpion

The scorpion has an impressive size (sometimes up to 18 cm), looks like a crayfish: a body divided into segments, 2 claws, 6 limbs. You can recognize a dangerous creature by a thickened upward curved tail with a sharp sting.

The insect spends most of its life, which lasts about 5 years, in places inaccessible to the human eye (small gorges, spaces under stones, holes in sandy soil 15-25 cm deep).Shows activity mainly at night.

A person can be attacked only because of fear or in the process of defense.

The venom of some representatives of the species is very dangerous, therefore, a timely recognized scorpion bite can save human life. It is believed that individuals with large claws are less poisonous.

Scorpion sting: symptoms

When a scorpion bite resembles a rather painful injection, the following symptoms appear:

• Acute, burning pain, proportional in its power to the degree of poisonousness of the scorpion.In pain, it resembles a severe burn and can last for several hours, sometimes increasing, then subsiding.

• Redness at the site of the lesion with a dark puncture point in the middle. The onset of edema, rapidly spreading with a potent poison.
• Severe itching.
• Feeling of numbness at the site of the lesion.
• Formation of bubbles filled with clear liquid.
• Attacks of nausea, periodic vomiting, pain in the abdomen.
• Dizziness, headache, sometimes a sore throat.
• Inflammation of the lymph nodes.
• Active salivation, confirming the intoxication of the body.
• Swelling of the tongue, discharge from the eyes of a purulent consistency – in severe lesions.

• Tachycardia and loss of consciousness in particularly difficult cases.
• Unstable body temperature.
• General anxiety is the result of overexcitation of the nervous system.

Scorpion sting: first aid and treatment

It is very important to react in a timely manner to the bite of a malicious insect, because passivity in such cases can cause serious consequences.What to do with a scorpion bite? In the first minutes, actions should be taken to prevent and slow down the penetration of poison into the body.

• Try to squeeze out the poison or make a small incision at the site of the bite and suck out the poisonous substance. The liquid must be spit out periodically. After completing the procedure, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. It is very important that there are no wounds in the mouth. The method is effective in the first 10 minutes from the moment of injury.
• Treat the affected area with an alcohol solution and apply an antiseptic bandage.This will prevent germs from getting inside, which the scorpion could carry on its sting.
• Apply cold or tight bandage to relieve swelling and relieve pain. This slows down the spread of the toxic substance throughout the body.

• Place the victim horizontally, ensuring complete immobility of the bitten limb.
• Inject epinephrine or novocaine at the site of the bite, which temporarily blocks the absorption of the poison.
• Apply anti-allergic medications.The action on nerve cells will exclude the injection of “Atropine”.

• Urgently deliver the victim to the nearest medical facility for professional assistance and further treatment.

How to avoid being bitten by a scorpion

In order not to become a victim of a scorpion, it is recommended:

• for spending the night in nature, where there is a high probability of the presence of scorpions, choose flat surfaces, be sure to clean them of foreign objects: dry branches, stones, etc.;
• tightly curtain the entrance to the tent;
• Before going to bed, conduct a scrupulous examination of tents, sleeping bags;
• Shake out clothes and shoes in the morning;
• do not wander at night on rocky slopes, do not collect firewood;
• do not walk without shoes on sandy beaches and deserted places, as scorpions like to bury themselves in the sand to a shallow depth;
• when meeting a dangerous insect, you should not tease it, try to touch it by the tail.

It should be understood what danger the scorpion venom poses to the body. Being a neurotoxic polypeptide, this substance is characterized by the property of causing allergic reactions, stimulating the release of stress hormones and negatively affecting brain tissue and nerve cells.

Treatment

For a non-poisonous scorpion bite, treatment consists of treating the wound and relieving pain with cold or pain relievers.

In more difficult cases, the victim is required to provide rest; in the presence of high blood pressure and muscle spasms, appropriate drugs and antitoxin serum are prescribed, which destroys the poison.

In the first 12 hours after the bite, the patient is prohibited from taking any food.

In a severe course of scorpionism (this is how a scorpion bite is called in medical terminology), the patient is provided with blood circulation and airway patency with the parallel use of funds whose action is aimed at eliminating shock and dehydration. blocking symptoms arising from the action of poison.

It is noteworthy that the deadly venom of a scorpion does not pose any danger to the latter, while in humans it can cause paralysis and cerebral edema.

Consequences of a meeting with a scorpion

A scorpion bite, if the latter is not poisonous, does not have serious consequences for the body, in mild cases it even looks like a bee sting. Small swellings at the site of the lesion can remind of an unpleasant moment in life, which will disappear in just a couple of days.

In severe cases (for example, when a tree scorpion bites), poison can enter the bloodstream, cause severe allergies and even cause death.A scorpion bite is very dangerous, the consequences of which can be simply unpredictable for people with weakened immune systems, the elderly and children.

It is worth knowing that the development of poisoning depends on the height of the lesion: the lower the bite site, the less likely it is that serious reactions will occur.

This will come in handy

Approximately 95% of deaths and 80% of severe poisoning are recorded after meeting with fat-tailed representatives of the species – androctonus (from ancient Greek.”Killing men”) living in the forests and deserts of North Africa.

A scorpion sting, the treatment of which can sometimes turn into a huge problem, is insensitive due to the presence of strong neurotoxins in the venom, which have a toxic effect on the nervous system and heart. The poison of such an insect is fatal within 7 hours from the moment of defeat.

A person has severe intoxication, the child has attacks of suffocation. In this case, life can be saved only with an antidote.

Water scorpion – scorpion?

The namesake of the scorpion – a water scorpion that lives in reservoirs with sedentary water – can also cause trouble for a person. In fact, this is a bug that looks like its southern counterpart outwardly. He bites just as painfully, but is not dangerous. There is no need for special treatment; itching and discomfort can be relieved by applying cold to the bite site and treating it with an antiseptic.

Scorpio is an insect that always arouses heightened interest.Mysterious and inaccessible, he carries mortal danger to humans on his sharp sting. Therefore, when meeting with such a representative of the fauna, one should maintain self-control and try to avoid being bitten as much as possible.

Scorpion bite: how to defend yourself

07/18/2017

Scorpions are representatives of dangerous, poisonous arachnids. The scorpion family has about 2000 species, but only half a hundred are dangerous to humans. The bite of a scorpion, which is not poisonous to humans, is not so dangerous.However, the bites of venomous individuals can be fatal. Scorpion venom contains neurotoxins that destroy cells and tissues.

Black fat-tailed (Caucasian) scorpion and yellow (Israeli) scorpion

Symptoms

It is known that the animal does not attack just like that. When a scorpion is frightened or accidentally crushed or disturbed, a bite is inevitable. If a particularly poisonous scorpion bites, if you do not provide medical assistance in time, a person can die.

A scorpion crushed by a palm is desperately fighting for life

Symptoms of intoxication:

• severe pain at the site of the bite, swelling;
• increased salivation, sweating;
• circulatory disorders;
• vomiting, foam at the mouth;
• weakness, shortness of breath, tachycardia;
• violation of breathing, swallowing, convulsions.

What to do if the scorpion has bitten:

• Don’t panic, you need to try to calm down.
• Call an ambulance or get to a poison control center yourself as soon as possible, especially if children or old people are injured.
• Scorpion venom is of protein nature, therefore it can cause an allergic reaction. If you suspect an allergy, you need to drink suprastin, diazolin, tavegil. In severe cases, in stationary conditions, the victim is injected with an effective drug – serum.This should be done in the first one and a half to two hours after the attack of the scorpion.

What to do Description Wash the bite site with clean water and soap to remove the remains of the poison and prevent infection. Apply a sterile bandage to the wound; apply a cold object or ice to the bite. Try not to move the affected limb, not to raise it above the level of the heart. Take ibuprofen or analgin – drugs that reduce swelling and have anti-inflammatory properties.

The video in this article additionally tells about what will happen if a scorpion bites a person.

What is not recommended for a bite

These measures can only aggravate the condition:

• cutting the wound – the site of the bite (there is a high probability of bleeding or contamination of the wound)
• suction of poison from the wound (this is not always convenient to do, the procedure may be ineffective )
• Lubrication of the bite site with sunflower oil
• Applying warm compresses
• Tightening the limb with a tourniquet.

Rules for the prevention of bites

Scorpions prefer countries with hot or warm climates, rocky or sandy deserts, found in the tropics.Some species of these arachnids were chosen by the Caucasus, the Volga region, the Black Sea coast. You can find scorpions in the regions of Dagestan, Chechnya.

Observing several rules, you can protect yourself from scorpion bites:

• They say that you need to know the enemy by sight. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with poisonous, dangerous animals before going on vacation. You can save a photo of scorpions in your camera, on your phone. This is necessary so that, when bitten, it is possible to determine the type of animal, the degree of its danger to health.
• When staying for the night, you need to choose level areas, clean them of debris, dry grass, branches, stones. It is obligatory to carry out cleaning of the territory with gloves.
• Do not walk barefoot on sand or rocky terrain in their habitat;
• Scorpions are nocturnal animals, so you should not walk along rocky slopes in the evening, pick up brushwood from the ground, collect pebbles and twigs you like. Do not turn stones or driftwood with your bare hands – scorpions can rest under them;
• You can see a scorpion at night with the help of an ultraviolet flashlight – the chitinous cover of arthropods in the dark emits a green-bluish fluorescent glow.

Setting up tents with insect nets

A scorpion bite is very painful and dangerous to health, so it is better to avoid this scourge. Instructions for the prevention of encounters and scorpion bites are not complicated, but effective.

Compliance with its rules, the presence of a first aid kit, knowledge of the phone numbers of the nearest medical aid stations, timely first aid for a scorpion bite are the main conditions for maintaining health and life.

Scorpion bite, what to do?

Scorpions are arthropods with 8 limbs.The scorpion’s glands actively produce poison, it is in the sting at the end of the tail, and it is with it that they strike their prey. Scorpions can penetrate into the home to people.

During the day they do not make themselves felt, they constantly hide in crevices, but at night they can crawl into clothes, shoes and even bed. Scorpions do not specifically attack, only by accidental contact.

What to do with a scorpion bite? How dangerous is he?

Where do scorpions live?

Dangerous scorpions are common all over the world.The main habitat is the warm, dry and hot climate of India, Asia, South Africa, the Caucasus, South America. It is easy to recognize a scorpion outwardly: it is no more than 15 cm, its tail is distinguished by a characteristic bend, and at its top there is a sting with poison.

When a scorpion bites, the sting damages the skin and all the poison ends up in the wound. It is worth noting that each type of scorpion has a different venom, so the symptoms after a bite can be different. At first, a person may not notice how he was bitten by a scorpion.Some have a sharp, sudden burning sensation.

Characteristics of the poison

The toxin contains the following substances:

• Neurotoxin is a poisonous foreign protein that destroys nerve cells and tissues in the brain.
• Antigens belong to the protein components of a toxin and are the main cause of an allergic reaction.
• Substances affecting the heart, the release of stress hormones.

Symptoms after a scorpion bite

• Burning and pain in the affected area.The more venom a scorpion has, the more unpleasant the bite.
• The bitten area is swollen and swollen. Poisonous scorpions cause the swelling to spread to distant areas of the skin.
• The affected area is significantly reddened.
• A bitten limb or other part of the body may go numb. Then the area of ​​numbness expands.
• Seizures occur. They can have different intensities: small twitching of individual muscles or massive cramps.
• Pain in the abdomen as well as in the body.
• Severe nausea, vomiting and headache are observed.
• Severe sore throat, increased saliva secretion – these symptoms appear before a generalized convulsive seizure, can accompany severe intoxication.
• The heartbeat becomes more frequent, the inhibited state, sometimes a person completely loses consciousness.

First aid

If you are sure that you have been bitten by a non-venomous scorpion, do not be nervous. Symptoms in this case pass within a few hours, no specialized medical assistance is required.In the event of a bite by an unknown scorpion, the victim must be urgently hospitalized and monitored. Pay attention to the following actions after the bite:

• Press down on the bitten area. If a poisonous scorpion bites during the first minutes, you need to make a small incision and try to get rid of the poison.
• Cauterize the affected area with something hot.
• Apply cold.
• Treat the wound with an antiseptic – peroxide, alcohol, regular soap.
• Apply a tight bandage over the bite and surrounding areas.
• Cover the bite with a solution of Adrenaline, Novocaine. This will allow the poison to be absorbed more slowly.
• Atropine is introduced, which blocks the action of toxic substances on nerve cells.
• Application of a special antitoxic serum. It is an effective remedy that destroys the poison. It is especially useful when bitten by a poisonous scorpion.
• Symptomatic therapy includes taking anticonvulsants, intravenous infusions, diuretics, control of blood pressure, respiratory process.

Consequences of a scorpion bite

If a non-poisonous scorpion bites, everything ends normally, only a local reaction in the form of pain, a tumor. Also, the lymph nodes, which are located near the bitten area, increase significantly in size.

It is dangerous when a poisonous scorpion bites. Everything can end with intoxication of the body, convulsive syndrome. If you do not provide first aid, a person may die. There is also prolonged paresthesia, numbness of the limbs, muscle twitching.A local reaction is no less serious, with necrosis, skin necrosis and significantly enlarged lymph nodes.

What if bitten by a water scorpion?

A water scorpion lives in reservoirs where water is inactive. It is called that because outwardly it is similar to its poisonous brother, but less dangerous.

The arthropod bites very painfully, while the liquid is not so poisonous, only the pain persists for some time. In this case, you do not need special treatment, but to get rid of itching, discomfort, apply something cold to the affected area.

Then treat with some kind of antiseptic. If the itching persists for a long time, you need to take an antihistamine orally.

How to protect yourself from a bite?

To prevent dangerous consequences, you must adhere to the basic recommendations:

• Before putting on shoes, clothes, shake them thoroughly.
• Carefully review your bed linen, towels.
• Seal all possible gaps where scorpions can enter – remove debris, get rid of stones, chips, logs.
• Spray the soil near the foundation of the house with a mixture of kerosene + diesel fuel + creosote. And in the house you can spray with 0.2% Pirentrin and 2% Chlordane.

So, you need to be extremely careful for the elderly, children with allergies and those with a weak immune system. In this case, the bite can be fatal, the development of a serious reaction. During the provision of assistance, the height of the bite is taken into account. It is believed that the lower the bite, the less dangerous.

Always keep safety in mind.If you live in a place where there are many scorpions, follow all preventive measures. Couldn’t protect yourself? Do not think that the bite will go away on its own, urgently contact a specialist for help.

If a scorpion has bitten your loved one, give him first aid.

First aid for bites of scorpions, karakurt, blood-sucking insects, mosquitoes, biting flies, midges, mosquitoes, horseflies and hymenoptera

Bites of arthropod insects (scorpions, karakurt) are life-threatening, and insect bites cause large bloodsucking …Hymenoptera bites (wasps, bees and others) often cause allergic reactions. In any case, the victim needs first aid.

Scorpion sting, symptoms

Scorpion venom contains toxic substances that strongly affect the nervous system and neuromuscular conduction. Scorpions are found in desert and steppe regions. Most often, insect bites occur during a person’s stay in nature. In very rare cases, insects enter a person’s home.

A sharp burning pain quickly develops at the site of the sting by the scorpion, which persists from 1 to 24 hours. A particularly sensitive skin is felt around the bite site.

Edema and redness of the skin may develop in this place, along the lymphatic vessels, an increase in the nearest lymph nodes occurs, large blisters appear on the skin.

Manifestations of intoxication when stung by scorpions that live in the CIS are rarely severe.

First aid for scorpion bites

Lubricate the bite site with vegetable oil, apply heat (a heating pad with warm water), prick the bite site with 0.5–2% novocaine solution.

Manifestations of general body poisoning can be quickly eliminated by subcutaneous administration of 0.25–1 ml of 0.1% atropine sulfate solution or intramuscular administration of 2–5 mg of phentolamine hydrochloride.

Then it is recommended to take betamethasone + chlorhexidine, as well as antiallergic drugs (diphenhydramine, promethazine, chloropyramine).

The most dangerous scorpions are tropical scorpions, with bites of which you need to enter a specific anti-scorpion serum (ATP).It is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly according to a special scheme. It is advisable to enter it within the first hour after the bite.

To prevent an allergic reaction to ATP, hydrocortisone or prednisolone is administered. Asthmatic manifestations are relieved by subcutaneous administration of a 0.1% solution of atropine sulfate.

With the development of severe allergic and toxic reactions to bites, patients are hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

Karakurt bite, symptoms

The karakurt lives in desert and steppe regions.Only female spiders pose a danger to humans. The largest number of such lesions occurs at the end of May – beginning of July, when they begin to migrate. The poison of karakurt mainly affects the nervous system.

Karakurt bites when pressed down, if he accidentally crawls into a person’s clothes or bed. It usually bites people sleeping or resting in shaded areas. The bite is usually not felt by the victim, since it is not very painful. Local manifestations are very weak or absent at all.

In the area of ​​the bite, there may be a blanching of the skin, which is surrounded by a rim of slight redness.

The bite is often felt like a needle stick. Therefore, many victims do not perceive it as a bite due to slight pain and do not immediately seek medical help.

The manifestations of general poisoning develop very quickly – 5–30 minutes after the bite and rapidly intensify. Poisoning can be both mild and extremely severe, sometimes fatal.

In severe forms of poisoning, excruciating pains in the muscles appear.

The patients develop excitement, they become covered with cold sweat, there is a fear of death. Facial expression is tense, there is reddening of the skin of the face, sclera, lacrimation. In the future, muscle weakness develops, especially in the legs. There are pains in various parts of the body.

The abdominal muscles are very tense, while the intestines do not work well (gases do not escape). The body temperature rises to 38 degrees and above. There may be nausea and vomiting. In extremely severe poisoning, excitement is replaced by weakness, indifference to the environment, impaired consciousness, severe shortness of breath.

A patchy skin rash is occasionally noted.

First aid for karakurt bites

Emergency care for karakurt bites should be performed at the hospital. Reduction of intoxication is achieved by intravenous administration of 10% calcium chloride solution or 20-25% magnesium sulfate solution. If painful manifestations and muscle tension do not decrease after 1–2 hours, then these drugs should be re-administered.

But the most effective remedy is a specific immune anti-karakurtovaya serum, with early introduction of which intoxication is rapidly reduced.It is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly according to the Frequently method.

If urinary retention occurs, a catheter is inserted into the bladder. The patient should be hospitalized as soon as possible.

In the hospital, if it was not possible to relieve muscle spasm and pain, narcotic painkillers (1% promedol solution) are administered.

Bites of blood-sucking insects, symptoms

Severe allergic reactions develop when mosquitoes, biting midges, midges, mosquitoes and horseflies bite.

The saliva of blood-sucking insects contains toxic, analgesic substances and those that prevent blood clotting. Blood-sucking insects are widespread.

People can be exposed to their bites not only in forests, but also near rivers and on the streets (even in apartments) of large cities.

Burning and itching, swelling may appear at the site of the bite very quickly (within a few minutes). The skin at the site of the bite turns white, and a rim of redness appears around it.Most people have varying resistance to these insect bites.

Some people are hypersensitive to the bites of only one particular type of insect. But the main mass has only the manifestations of a local character described above.

General reactions develop quite rarely and are manifested in the form of fever, headache, weakness, nausea, shortness of breath associated with bronchospasm.

First aid for bites of blood-sucking insects

Antiallergic agents (diphenhydramine, promethazine, clemastine, chloropyramine, etc.) are used to treat a general allergic reaction to a bite.etc.). If bronchial spasm develops, then 5-10 ml of a 2.4% solution of aminophylline is injected intravenously.

Hymenoptera insect bites, symptoms

Hymenoptera insects (wasps, bees, etc.) are more common, more often found in forests, near human dwellings, in apiaries. Often, multiple bites by these insects are associated with the fact that a person disturbed their nest.

The greatest danger to life and health is posed by allergic reactions to bites in people with hypersensitivity to insect poisons.An allergic reaction to a stinging can be local, general and mixed.

When stung by one insect, only soreness and slight inflammation appear (the skin turns red and swelling is noted) at the site of the bite, while a burning sensation is felt.

With a local reaction, there is a pronounced edema of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, with a diameter of more than 5 cm. The edema is more pronounced with bites to the face, neck and lips. The phenomena of general intoxication are weak or absent at all. Intoxication can be manifested by slight chills, nausea, dizziness.

A general allergic reaction is felt in the form of urticaria, joint damage, anaphylactic shock, Quincke’s edema, an attack of bronchial asthma. In addition, it can be mixed. Any of these manifestations can develop both in the first minutes after the bite, and after 0.5–2 hours.

First aid for Hymenoptera stings

After being stung by a bee, use tweezers to remove the sting from the bite. After that, moisten the wound with alcohol, vodka or cologne, and then apply cold to it.If the stings are multiple, then after treatment of the wounds, 0.3–1 ml of a 0.1% solution of epinephrine hydrochloride is injected subcutaneously.

Antiallergic drugs (diphenhirdramine, promethazine or chloropyramine) can be taken by mouth. To reduce intoxication, an abundant warm drink is indicated. The most dangerous are allergic reactions, which can very quickly end in death – anaphylactic shock.

Therefore, all persons with hypersensitivity to bee and wasp stings should, if possible, avoid places where these insects accumulate and have a supply of necessary medicines with them.

If a severe asthma attack develops, then isadrin hydrochloride or orciprenaline sulfate is used by inhalation. In severe cases, hospitalization is required. There, intravenous administration of a 5% solution of glucose with prednisolone or hydrocortisone is carried out.

The introduction of solutions of antiallergic drugs is mandatory. If necessary, carry out resuscitation measures.

Based on the book “Quick help in emergency situations”.
Kashin S.P.

Deadly or not a scorpion bite: first aid

In short, to the question: is a scorpion bite deadly or not, then – YES. A scorpion bite is deadly! But if you analyze the statistics in more detail, it turns out that the bite causes a wide range of symptoms, and is fatal only sometimes.

Usually, bites are just a nuisance, and all the poisonous effect in most cases is expressed by severe soreness and local reactions of the skin, which respond well to treatment.In fact, of the 1,750 or so species of scorpions around the world, only about 25 are considered medically significant.

These are those that can cause serious reactions, including neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory complications. Only some types of poison are fatal to children, the elderly and weakened people.

Of the naturally occurring species in the northern hemisphere, the scorpions of the species Centruroides sculpturatus are dangerous.

Their poison affects the selection of sodium channels in nerve cells; this leads to repeated, accidental depolarization of nerve cell membranes with excessive excitability, neuromuscular activity, and autonomic dysfunction.

Anti-scorpion serum relieves symptoms within minutes but may have side effects when used in children.

No deaths have been reported in the Russian Federation for over 20 years, but scorpion venom is a serious problem in tropical countries, with the result that there are far more deaths from scorpion bites than even venomous snakes.

On the territory of the former CIS, poisonous species are found in the Crimea, the Caucasus, and Asian countries.There is a pale yellow scorpion with spots in the desert, about 5 cm long, in the Caucasus there is a black scorpion more than 10 cm in size. Closer to Sukhumi, there is an “Italian” and many other varieties. Scorpions – butoids (variegated, Transcaucasian) are more poisonous than hactoids – from the Crimea or Italy. Butoids have a larger telson (especially thick-tailed telson). In the middle latitudes, death from a scorpion bite is unlikely, but the black fat-tailed

Scorpions are armed poisonous animals, unlike unarmed ones, they attack prey, and they have a sting to kill the victim with poison.Their “sting” is located in the tail part of the body, in the last segment of the tail in the telson, together with the venom glands. The scorpion grabs the victim with “tentacles” and, with a swift movement of its tail, plunges a needle into its body and injects its poison.

The scorpion is not the first to attack a person, he must be disturbed; break a nest under stones or hurt a guest who climbed into a shoe for the night.

The composition of the scorpion’s venoms is different, in poisonous individuals the bite is not only poisonous, but also causes a chemical burn.Scorpion venom is a colorless, slightly pearlescent liquid containing neuropeptides, histamine, serotonin, hyaluronidase, acetylcholine and other active substances.

The main effect of the scorpion venom is neurotoxic, therefore, in the very place of the bite, there may not be strong changes except for a purple dot with a bubble in the middle, a slight swelling, but with a strong knocking pain.

Symptoms consist of autonomic reactions, both sympatho-adrenal and parasympathetic.

Shortness of breath, vomiting, respiratory paralysis may occur soon after the bite.The temperature can also rise and symptoms of general intoxication appear: weakness, abdominal cramps, pain in the heart, wheezing in the lungs, profuse sweat. Blood clotting may deteriorate

Scorpion neurotoxin surpasses many animal poisons, it causes muscle twitching, generalized convulsions, changes in vascular tone, there may be an increase in blood pressure, palpitations, rhythm disturbances. Children may have an epileptic seizure with loss of consciousness and pulmonary edema.

Delayed reaction

The bite is very painful, the neurotoxic poison can cause instant paralysis or partial muscle weakness some time after the bite. The bitten patient must be observed for at least two hours after seeking first aid, as the reaction may develop later;

• the farther south and hotter the climate, the more poisonous the scorpions are;
• large individuals, more poisonous than small ones;
• scorpion bites are often fatal in the jungle

First aid for a scorpion bite

Treatment consists of first aid and follow-up treatment in a medical center.

First aid:

• The first is to give an antihistamine pill – diphenhydramine, suprastin, zyrtec, etc .;
• The second is to relieve pain. Anesthesia – better local lidocaine 5-10%, it is possible, as an option, in the form of an ointment, patch, gel or spray;
• If there is choking, an asthma medication can be inhaled from a pocket inhaler.