Epidemiological Aspect of Scorpion Sting in Behbahan, Iran, During ۲۰۰۷-۲۰۱۸

Introduction: Scorpion sting a public health problem in Iran, especially in Khuzestan Province, that can threaten human health. Investigating demographic and epidemiologic factors affecting scorpion stings is vital in preventing this issue. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of scorpion sting patients referred to the clinical centers of Behbahan, Khuzestan Province, Iran.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on all stung people referred to clinical centers in Behbahan County from ۲۰۰۷ to ۲۰۱۸. The epidemiology of patients and demographic data were collected using a checklist and analyzed using SPSS version ۱۶.Results: Our results showed that ۱۹۶۰۰ scorpion stings (in ۱۲ years) were recorded in Behbahan County, including ۱۰۳۱۵ males (۵۳%) and ۹۲۸۵females (۴۷%). Their average age of the patients was ۲۹.۶ years, and ۸۳% of the stings occurred at home. Sixty percent of scorpion stings happened between ۶:۰۰ pm and ۶:۰۰ am. The least and most frequent cases of sting were people aged ۵۵-۶۴ and ۲۵-۳۴ years, respectively. Scorpion stings mainly (۷۵.۳%)occurred during the warm seasons, such as spring and summer (n=۱۴۷۶۰), and ۶۱.۴% (n=۱۲۰۳۲) of the patients residing in rural areas and ۳۸.۶% (n=۷۵۶۸)residing in urban areas. Hands were the most prevalent sting sites, with a frequency rate of ۳۹.۴%. The average incidence rate of scorpion stings was estimated at ۸۴۰.۲ individuals per ۱۰۰,۰۰۰. Two deaths occurred due to scorpion stings during the study period (۱۲ years).Conclusion: The high incidence rate of scorpion stings observed in Behbahan supports the need for new prevention measures and policies to reduce the incidence, prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of such stings and the high cost of their treatment.

Keywords:

Epidemiology , Scorpion sting , Incidence , Behbahan