What is the incidence of Red Scorpion sting?
Scorpion stings are a major public health problem in many underdeveloped tropical countries. For every person killed by a poisonous snake, a poisonous scorpion kills 10.

Where and when can people be exposed to scorpion stings?
Scorpions can be found outside their normal range of distribution, i.e., when they accidentally crawl into luggage, boxes, containers, or shoes and are unwittingly transported home via human travelers.

Scorpions are nocturnal creatures; they hunt during the night and hide in crevices and burrows during the day to avoid the light. Thus, accidental human stinging occurs when scorpions are touched while in their hiding places, with most of the stings occurring on the hands and feet.

What are the symptoms of Red Scorpion sting?
Scorpion stings cause a wide range of conditions, from severe local skin reactions to neurologic, respiratory, and cardiovascular collapse.

How does a scorpion sting harm a person?
When a scorpion bites, it releases neurotoxins. These toxins are responsible for causing cell impairment in nerves, muscles, and the heart. Most deaths occur during the first 24 hours after the sting and are secondary to respiratory or heart failure.

Who are at risk for Red Scorpion sting?
Children and elderly persons are at the greatest risk. Further, patients in rural areas tend to fare worse than patients in urban areas because of the delay in getting medical help due to a longer travel time to medical centers.

What is the therapeutic option after a Red Scorpion sting?
Treatment of a scorpion sting includes

• Immediate administration of antiserum for scorpion venom
• Applying ice cube at the site of the sting for controlling the pain