From the Hospital de Clínicas they warn that in Paraguay around 110 to 120 bites are reported annually, mostly from Asunción and the Central department.
Dr. Cristina San Miguel, Clinical infectologist and specialist in zoonotic diseases at the Hospital de Clínicas explained about the especies of scorpions that make their appearance in times of high temperatures and the care to take into account to avoid its bite.
“Scorpions are nocturnal arthropods, but they can appear during the day when there are high temperatures. They live under any object on the ground, mainly. There are more than 1600 species. One of the most dangerous is Tityus trivittatus, in Guarani “japeusa”, he indicated.
noted that the poisonous ones have a pair of pincers that they use to hold the prey and an articulated tail that in the last portion -called telson- produces the venom. This communicates with the stinger, similar to a canaliculated needle through which the poison is introduced. They also have a small smaller thorn near the stinger. “They take refuge in cracks in walls, floors, in gratings, under tiles, bricks, stones and wood,” he added.
It is worth mentioning that In our country, around 110 to 120 bites are reported annually, mostly from Asunción and the Central Department. “These data correspond to mandatory notifications, but a high underreporting is estimated. And about 5% have needed antivenom in the year 2022,” she said.
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GRAVITY
“A scorpion sting accident is a medical emergency, and it also depends on aggravating factors such as age, since it is more serious in children; from the place of the bite: if it is near a blood vessel or nerve; and of the species of scorpion: in pregnant women, ”he warned.
before the bite, One of the first measures is to place ice to reduce pain and go to the nearest center where there is an emergency service. It is important to remember that the regional hospitals, the Institute of Tropical Medicine, the Toxicology Center are prepared for this type of accident.