Scorpions are active at night and are extremely numerous in the African bush.

They can be easily seen at night using a black light (remember Saturday Night Fever when you still frequented the discos?) The glow is due to the presence of fluorescent chemicals in the cuticle. The principal fluorescent component is now known to be beta-Carboline. A hand-held UV lamp has long been a standard tool for nocturnal field surveys of these animals. However, a glow will only be produced in adult specimens as the substances in the skin required to produce the glow are not found in adolescents.

How to prevent being stung

• Wear protective footwear - especially at night.

• Be careful when lifting rocks and logs

• Watch out when collecting firewood

• Do not handle scorpions with bare hands

• When camping try not to sleep directly on the ground

• Shake out footwear, clothing and bedding to evict nasties

• Learn how to distinguish a highly venomous scorpion from a harmless ones

• Remember: Some scorpions can squirt venom into the eyes of attackers from a bout 1m away

Scorpion Families

A relatively harmless species with large pincers and slender tail. It is mildly toxic and produces stinging pain in a mild local reaction which may persist for 15-20 minutes. No antivenom or treatment is required.

Up to 100mm, Varies from olive to yellow, brown or almost black. Large pincers and slender tail

Mildly toxic venom. Produces stinging pain in a mild local reaction which may persist for 15-20 minutes. No antivenom or treatment is necessary

Potentially lethal envenomations are possible by species of the buthid genera. They have thick tails and slender pinchers. Venom is injected by stinging or squirting venom at the eyes of the perceived threat.

Scorpions are common throughout southern Africa. Parabuthus sp. is found throughout the region except on the highveld and eastern seaboard. The venom is a potentially lethal neurotoxin which causes an extremely painful local reaction within one. Use ice packs and tight crepe bandage to immobolise whole limb. Treat with specific antivenom. Do not use morphine and derivatives. Buthotus is restricted to sandy hot and arid areas in the north of the region.

20 -50mm. Bright green, orange or orange-green with black markings. No stridulatory patches or abdominal keels. Fast moving.

Very painful local reaction which may spread. Effects of venom lasts at least 3 hours. Use ice packs. No antivenom required. Do not use morphine and derivatives

30 -70mm. Medium-sized yellow scorpions with pincers, thick tails, characteristic black keels on carapace just behind head and three black keels down length of abdomen.

Use ice packs and tight crepe bandage to immobilize whole limb. Treat with specific antivenom. Never use morphine and derivatives for pain.

60 -150mm.Large yellow, brown or black scorpions with slender pincers, thick tail and stridulatory areas on the first and second tail segments

Use ice packs and tight crepe bandage to immobilize whole limb. Treat with specific antivenom. Never use morphine and derivatives for pain.

General

Many victims of scorpion stings see the scorpion that has stung them and its crushed remains often accompany them to hospital after the victim’s vengeance has been had. Unless there are obvious systemic signs, antivenom therapy is contraindicated.

An ice-pack should be applied to relieve the pain and retard the onset of systemic signs. Immobilization of the limb involved with tight crepe bandages and splints to impede the spread of venom via the lymphatic system is advised.

Under no circumstances should morphine or any of its derivatives be administered to reduce pain as these compounds act synergistically with the venom and greatly increase the chances of death.

The specific antivenom should be used to treat patients with systemic signs.

Symptoms

The severity of envenomation depends on various factors such as the health and age of the victim, the sting site and species, size and degree of agitation of the scorpion.

Persons with heart or respiratory problems will be at greater risk.

Some or all of the following sings and symptoms may result.

• Immediate and intense, burning pain at the sting site that lasts about 30 minutes. Mild inflammation may be present, with the sting mark not always visible

• Signs and symptoms only develop after 30 minutes and sometimes only after 4 to 12 hours, increasing in severity over the following 24 hours. The pain can be local as well as far removed from sting site with abdominal cramps

• Abnormal sensitivity, including a burning sensation and pins and needles usually in the hands, feet, face and scalp

• Excessive sensitivity of the skin to clothing and bedding with the patient even increased sensitivity to noise

• Lack of muscle coordination with a stiff legged or drunken walking action.

• Involuntary movements, tremors and muscle weakness.

• Increased pulse rate of 100 to 150 bpm for Parabuthus granulatus and below 55 bpm for Parabuthus transvaalicus

• Raised blood pressure in Parabuthus granulatus. Normal in children but raised in some adults in Parabuthus transvaalicus cases.

• Difficulty in swallowing especially with Parabuthus transvaalicus. Excessive salivation

• Difficulty speaking

• Excessive perspiration in Parabuthus transvaalicus cases

• Headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

• Droopy eyelids

• Restlessness and anxiety is a prominent feature seen in children with Parabuthus granulatus. Hyperactivity and infants crying for unexplained reason.
  Restlessness, particularly in children, should be a warning of potentially life-threatening complications

• Urine retention

• Respiratory distress is a major complication and can result in death

Treatment

Patients with systemic signs and symptoms should be kept under observation for 48 hours before discharge.

All other scorpion stings result in painful local signs which can be relieved by means of an icepack applied as soon as possible after envenomation.

The severity of scorpion stings are affected by the amount of venom injected which varies from one sting to the next, the size of the specimen, the species involved and the body mass of the patient.

Envenomations are characterized by an intense burning pain at the site of the sting after which systemic signs and symptoms develop which may be as follows: barely perceptible oedema and erythema at the sting bite, sweating, drooling, restlessness, confusion, nausea or vomiting, abdominal or chest pains, muscular twitching, numbness, convulsions and impaired breathing.

• First aid treatment is the application of a cold compress, if the hyperaesthesia will allow and an analgesic (Asprin, Paracetamol) to relieve pain and transport to a hospital

• Monitor cardiac and respiratory functions and treat as required

• Patient with systemic symptoms, especially children and the elderly must be hospitalized for 24 to 48 hours

• Immobilize and clean wound

• Antivenom must only be administered in the case of severe systemic envenomation

• Antihistamine and steroids only to be administered in cases of allergic reaction to antivenom. In the event of hypersensitivity to the ingestion or injection of a substance, which must always be anticipated, administer adrenaline

• Atropine may be administered in cases of confirmed Parabuthus transvaalicus envenomation to control excessive secretions

• Intravenous administration of 10 ml of 10% calcium gluconate IV over 10 to 20 minutes may provide relief from pain and cramp, but is only effective for 20 to 30 minutes.

• Administer a tetanus toxoid to prevent infection

• Envenomation of the eyes must be flushed with water or any bland fluid (milk, urine). In severe cases antivenom can be diluted 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 with water

• Do not use traditional remedies such as incisions, suction, tourniquet or the application of ointments.

• Do not use alcohol as it will only mask any symptoms.

• Do not administer antivenom if no signs or symptoms of severe envenomation presents itself.

• Do not administer spider or snake antivenom.

• Do not administer atropine to reduce salivation in the case of Parabuthus granulatus stings as it may lead to unopposed adrenergic reaction.

• Do not administer barbiturates, opiates, morphine or morphine derivatives as this could greatly increase convulsions and cause respiratory distress.

Antivenom is produced by the South African Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR) in Johannesburg [011] 489 9000.