How to Treat a Scorpion Sting

Seek medical attention if symptoms are severe. Regardless, children, infants, the elderly, and people with heart or lung conditions need medical attention if stung by a scorpion. However, most scorpion stings can be treated at home, although the most dangerous venom requires specialist treatment. Get medical help right away if you notice any of the symptoms below. ^{[5] [6]}

• Vomiting, sweating, drooling or foaming at the mouth
• Urinary incontinence or defecation
• Struggles or spasms, including involuntary movements of the head, neck, or eyes, or unsteady gait
• Increased or irregular heart rate
• Difficulty breathing, swallowing, talking or seeing
• Swelling due to an allergic reaction

Find the wound site. A scorpion sting may or may not be swollen. However, any sting from a scorpion will cause a stinging or burning sensation when stung, followed by a stinging sensation and numbness. The sting area is usually in the lower body, but can be anywhere on the body.

Wash the stung area with soap and water. Carefully remove clothing around the wound and wash gently. This step helps remove any traces of venom left around the sting and keeps the wound clean to reduce the risk of infection.

Keep the injected area still and position it lower than the heart. Unlike some other wounds, a scorpion sting should never be raised above the heart, as this will cause the venom to spread throughout the body faster. Keep the wound lower than the heart and limit movement to prevent the heart from beating faster, causing the venom to spread faster. ^[7]

Reassure the victim. The state of anxiety or panic can make the heart beat faster, thereby speeding up the absorption of the venom. You should reassure the victim if possible and avoid letting them move. Remind them that most scorpion stings don’t leave any permanent damage.

Apply a cold pack or ice pack to the sting area. ^[8] Cold helps slow the rate at which venom spreads through the bloodstream, reducing swelling and numbing pain. Apply cold packs or ice packs for about 10-15 minutes at a time, waiting the same amount of time between each application. This treatment is most effective within 2 hours of the injury. ^[8]

• If the victim has circulatory problems, ice should be applied for only 5 minutes at a time to avoid injury. ^[9]

Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Use ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen to relieve pain and discomfort. Always follow the directions on the medicine box label. Do not take opioid pain relievers (drugs derived from opiates) because they can inhibit breathing. Ibuprofen and aspirin are best, as they are both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce swelling. ^[10] Seek medical attention if pain is severe.

First aid if necessary . Severe unconsciousness or spasms are rare, but if they do, call 911 right away. Learn the basic steps of CPR and act quickly if you suspect they are in cardiac arrest.

Go to the doctor to check. Even if you feel better with home remedies, it’s still a good idea to see your doctor or healthcare professional for a check-up. To reduce your risk of infection and other complications, you may be advised to get a tetanus shot, take a muscle relaxant, or take antibiotics. Do not take these medications without your doctor’s prescription.

Only catch the scorpion if you can safely do this. You should prioritize saving the victim over catching the scorpion. However, identifying the scorpion will allow you to determine if medical treatment is needed, and in the case of a venomous scorpion, it will help the healthcare professional choose the right treatment. . ^[11] If you have a glass jar several times the size of a scorpion (about 1 liter is usually appropriate), you can try to capture it so the expert can identify it. ^{[12] [13]} However, if you don’t see a scorpion or don’t have a suitable container, don’t attempt it. perform this step.

• Find a large glass jar that’s wide enough to easily capture the scorpion, and high enough that the scorpion can’t sting your hand when you hold it upside down. If so, use tongs that are at least 25 cm long.
• Catch the scorpion with a jar or tongs. Hold the jar upside down and fold it over the scorpion. If you have tongs that are long enough to be used out of danger, grab the scorpion firmly and put it in the jar.
• Screw the bottle cap. If the jar is upside down, slip a piece of “hard” paper or cardboard under the rim of the jar, hold the outside, and turn the jar over. Cover the jar or use a large, heavy book to block the top of the jar.

Take a picture of the scorpion if you don’t catch it. If you don’t have the right tools to catch a scorpion, you can take a picture of it. Take lots of photos from different angles if possible. Having pictures to compare will help you identify details you may not remember, and if professional care is needed, it will help the healthcare professional identify the species of scorpion.

The assumption that scorpions have a fat tail can be dangerous. Scorpions with thick, fat stingers and tails are often more dangerous than scorpions with thin nibs. ^[14] While catching or photographing a scorpion is still useful in identifying the scorpion species, you should still seek medical attention even if no serious symptoms, especially especially if you are in Africa, India or America.

• If you only see the scorpion’s claws clearly, you can estimate the risk by its claws: larger, stronger pairs often indicate that the scorpion relies on its claws for defense rather than venom. poison. This is not obvious, but it is useful information for you to report to your healthcare professional.

Identification of dangerous scorpions in the United States and northern Mexico. If you are in the southwestern United States or northern Mexico, you should search online for pictures of the “Arizona bark scorpion” and compare it to the scorpion that just caused the injury. Note that highland scorpions often have stripes, while desert scorpions often have a skin color or light brown. The stings of these scorpions can be fatal and require urgent medical attention. ^[15]

• If you are in other parts of the United States, there is less risk of serious injury from a scorpion wound. ^[16] You should still treat the wound as described above and be prepared to see a doctor if you have an allergic reaction or other serious symptoms.

Identification of dangerous scorpions in the Middle East and Africa. The “deathstalker scorpion”, also known as the Israeli desert scorpion, grows up to 11.5 cm, can come in a variety of colors, and the claws come in a variety of sizes. ^{[17] [18]} Due to the risk of heart or lung failure associated with this scorpion sting, any scorpion bite that is smaller than a human hand Adults living in this area should receive medical treatment as soon as possible.

• As mentioned above, scorpions with fat tails can be extremely dangerous, and many species are found in this region.
• Unidentified, thin-tailed scorpions are generally low risk, but because the number of scorpion species in Africa is so large and not all species are well-studied, you need to be prepared to look for scorpions. Get medical attention if you have any symptoms other than mild pain and swelling.

Identification of dangerous scorpions in Central America and South America. Most scorpions in this region are not dangerous to adults, but there are a few exceptions. One of the more dangerous species is the “Brazilian yellow scorpion”; like many other dangerous scorpions, they often have thick, fat tails. ^[19]