Effect of Scorpion Envenomation on Pregnancy Outcomes in Pregnant Women Referred to Razi Hospital of Ahvaz, Iran

Background and Aim : Scorpionism is one of the most important health problems in tropical regions,which unfortunately results in thousands of deaths annually. Given the high prevalence of scorpion in someareas, pregnant women may be potential victims of scorpion envenomation. There is limited medical dataabout the effects of scorpion envenomation in pregnant women in the literatures, and available data inanimal studies are somewhat controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of scorpionenvenomation on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women.Methods : The present descriptive/analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 66 scorpionenvenomed pregnant women referred to the clinical toxicology unit of Razi hospital during 2015-2017.After data collection from medical record, the pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. The relationshipbetween pregnancy outcomes and various variables including maternal age, scorpion species, patientresidency, interval time, laboratory disorders, gestational age, fetal/ neonatal complications, sting site,severity of scorpion sting, and maternal complications were determined.Results : The following results were obtained: abortion=1.5% (n=1), stillbirth=4.5% (n=3), pretermbirth=10.6% (n=7), normal birth=83% (n=55).Conclusion : Envenomation significantly contributes to preterm birth. Moreover, a significant relationshipwas found among pregnancy complications, bite location, and scorpion species, but no relationship wasfound among other variables

Keywords:

Scorpionism , Pregnancy complications , Stillbirth , Preterm birth