What are the symptoms of a scorpion sting?

Scorpions are common insects in our lives. Their venom is a protein neurotoxin. If a person is accidentally stung by a scorpion, if it is not serious, there will be local redness, swelling, blisters, and severe pain. If it is serious, there may be headaches, vomiting, convulsions and other symptoms. Don't panic after being stung by a scorpion. Squeeze out the toxin in time. If you feel unwell, seek medical attention in time.

What should I do if I get stung by a scorpion?

Generally, scorpion stings only cause local burning pain, redness, swelling, numbness, hypersensitivity, blisters, etc. In addition to local burning pain, redness, swelling, numbness, hyperesthesia and blisters, the sting of a highly venomous scorpion can also cause pain to extend to the entire limb and cause tissue bleeding and necrosis. 1-2 hours after the sting, headache, dizziness, photophobia, tearing, runny nose, salivation, nausea, vomiting, nasal, lung or gastrointestinal bleeding, oral and tongue muscle rigidity, sweating, hypothermia or hyperthermia, blood pressure that first increases and then decreases, bradycardia, slurred speech, irritability, and even convulsions, respiratory paralysis to respiratory failure may occur. Acute heart failure, coma, etc. may occur, and pancreatitis, increased blood sugar, proteinuria and hematuria may occasionally occur. Rapid development of symptoms within 2 to 4 hours after injury is often a sign of a poor prognosis, and death may occur if not properly treated. If you can survive for more than 48 hours, your chances of recovery are greater. Death is more common in children under 6 years old, often occurring within 2 hours after injury, and the cause of death is mostly severe damage to vital centers. For cured patients, poisoning symptoms generally disappear after 2 days, but neurological damage may persist for more than 1 week. For mild cases, local wound treatment and short-term observation for 4 hours are sufficient; severe cases require systemic treatment and admission to the ICU.

Black-tailed venomous scorpion

Emergency treatment after being stung by a scorpion: first prick the stung part with a needle, forcefully squeeze out the venomous blood as much as possible, and then proceed with the following treatment. Because scorpion venom is a migratory neurotoxic venom, it will cause paroxysmal pain in the bones and joints throughout the body. This is a normal phenomenon, so there is no need to be nervous or afraid!

1. General treatment

1. The patient should remain calm and rest in bed.

2. Use sedatives and analgesics.

2. Local wound treatment

1. Find and remove the stinger at the wound (cut it open if necessary) and use negative pressure to absorb the venom.

2. Use alkaline liquid to clean the wound, such as 5%-10% sodium bicarbonate, 1:2000 potassium permanganate solution or 3% ammonia water to rinse the wound.

3. Use 0.25%-0.5% procaine to make a circular seal on the wound.

3. Other treatments

1. For mild local reactions, oral antihistamines and analgesics are used. For severe reactions, 1:1000 epinephrine, 0.3-0.5 ml, is injected subcutaneously. The injection can be repeated after 10-15 minutes.

2. For muscle rigidity, 10 ml of 10% calcium gluconate can be diluted with 20 ml of 5% glucose and injected intravenously, or 5-10 mg of cedapam can be injected intravenously.

3. For severe cases, intravenous infusion of methylprednisolone 125 mg or hydrocortisone 200-300 mg is given.

4. Prazosin has the effect of inhibiting the peripheral effects of toxins and can be taken orally at a dose of 0.25 mg, 2-3 times a day.

5. Give the patient oxygen. Acute left heart failure and pulmonary edema can be treated as cardiogenic pulmonary edema, but morphine should not be used. Dopamine should be used in shock, and it should be used in combination with metaraminol and glucocorticoids. Because the toxin has the effect of blocking dopamine receptors, it is ineffective when used alone. Others are treated symptomatically. If breathing difficulties occur, artificial respiration should be given.

6. The most effective treatment method is a specific anti-scorpion venom serum, but it has not yet been produced in my country.

Knowledge extension: Like most animal venoms, scorpion venom is a weak acidic substance containing hydrogen ions. Does this weakly acidic environment have important biological functions and evolutionary significance? The latest research has found that in a weakly acidic environment, scorpion venom activates TRPV1 2 to 3 orders of magnitude more efficiently than in a neutral environment, thereby inducing severe pain. In a weakly acidic environment, hydrogen ions pre-activate TRPV1, placing it in a special state ready for activation. There is a neurotoxin peptide called BmP01 in scorpion venom. When TRPV1 encounters this peptide in the above state, it can be easily activated. The researchers concluded that the process of scorpion stings producing severe pain relies on a set of "molecular combination punch" mechanisms. "Hydrogen ions are the first punch that activates TRPV1; scorpion toxin BmP01 is the second punch that activates TRPV1." "We have revealed an evolutionary mystery in nature," said Yang Shilon. "Take scorpion venom as an example. The acidic environment greatly optimizes the function of venom from poisonous animals, which people have never realized before. Revealing this mechanism provides an important theoretical basis for the clinical understanding and treatment of scorpion stings, and provides a target for the development of analgesic drugs."

Although scorpion stings are extremely painful, relevant studies have shown that being stung by scorpions regularly can help activate the nervous system, keep blood flowing, and prevent the formation of blood clots!