EC Paediatrics

Scorpion envenomation constitutes in Morocco, as in several countries around the world, a major public health problem.

We conducted a retrospective study with descriptive and analytical purposes, focusing on the pediatric population, admitted to the emergency reception department and the pediatric department of the Midelt Provincial Hospital Center. This study interested children aged 0 to 15 years admitted for scorpion stings, with the aim of analyzing the epidemiological aspects of scorpion envenomation in children.

During a period of two years, 121 cases of scorpion stings were recorded, representing a prevalence of 4.78%. All age groups were affected with a predominance of children under 6 years old. The sex ratio (M/F) was 1.42. The majority of cases were of rural origin (59%) and bitten during the hot period (57%) and more precisely during summer nights. The bites mainly affected the distal parts of the upper and lower limbs (90%). The black scorpion was the most incriminated (51%). The treatment time was between 30 minutes and 2 hours in 38.02% of cases and exceeded 4 hours in 33.05% of cases.

Overall, scorpion stings remain a summer danger, especially in rural areas of the province of Midelt. They are often benign but the occurrence of complications always remains unpredictable. Hence the need for prevention, education and early and appropriate care, respecting the National Strategy for the Fight against Scorpionic Bites and Envenomation developed by the Ministry of Health in Morocco.

 Keywords: Scorpion Stings (SS); Envenomation; Morocco

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