Wilderness Medicine Updates Ep. 2 - Pain Management for Scorpion Stings
Jan 24, 2023
Explore innovative pain management techniques for scorpion stings, comparing IV acetaminophen, dexketoprofen, and topical lidocaine against placebo. Discover the global impact of scorpion stings and the importance of cautious opioid use. Delve into the role of benzodiazepines in treating severe symptoms and learn about the intriguing feeding habits of these arachnids. This episode blends critical medical insights with fascinating facts about the natural world!
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Global Burden Of Scorpion Stings
- Scorpion envenomations are common globally and cause significant morbidity and mortality.
- Most dangerous species are limited (~30) but annual stings exceed 1.2 million with ~3,000 deaths.
Venom Mechanism And Severe Toxicity
- Scorpion venom contains hemolysins and neurotoxins that block sodium channels and cause neuronal hyperexcitation.
- Severe toxicity can produce arrhythmia, seizures, pulmonary edema, and multisystem failure.
Apply Results Only To Localized Stings
- Restrict this study's findings to patients with localized (grade 1) scorpion stings without systemic signs.
- Do not generalize analgesic effects to patients with cardiopulmonary or neurotoxic presentations.