Clinical and Laboratory Findings and Prognosis of Snake and Scorpion Bites in Children under ۱۸ Years of Age in Southern Iran in ۲۰۱۸-۱۹

Background Biting is one of the major medical and social problems in many tropical and subtropical regions, including the Middle East. Identification of clinical signs and other factors in children and adolescents is important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory symptoms and prognosis of snake and scorpion bites in children under ۱۸ years. Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was performed on ۶۰ bite patients with an age range of one month to ۱۸ years in Ali-Ibn-Abitaleb hospital of Zahedan, Iran. Demographic data, bite characteristics and clinical symptoms were recorded from files withdrawn from hospital data center. Frequency of studied variables was expressed as percentage. Results: From all patients ۳۲ (۵۳.۳%) were male and ۲۸ (۴۶.۷%) were female with mean age of ۹.۷۳ ± ۴.۲۶ years. The most children with scorpion or snake bite were male gender, older than ۱۰ years, more happened in summer, represented mostly by pain, swelling in the area, hematuria (۵۸.۳%), and hepatic enzymatic abnormalities. ۹۵% of patients had complete recovery without complications and only ۵% recovered with complications. Most of them took less than an hour to reach the clinic. Conclusion Due to the high prevalence of scorpion bites in specific seasons and the lack of specificity of clinical signs and symptoms, it is necessary to treat patients in case of high-risk bites.

Keywords:

Children , Clinical symptoms , Laboratory , Snakebite , Scorpion bite