Spatial distribution of scorpions according to the socioeconomic conditions in Campina Grande,State of Paraíba, Brazil

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Due to its frequency and morbidity, such as that caused by scorpions have achieved public health importance in certain regions of the world. The present exploratory ecological study aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile and spatial distribution of scorpion stings in Campina Grande, State of Paraíba in Northeastern Brazil. METHODS: Geographical information system techniques were used to record the scorpion stings, and Google Earth software, Track Maker, and ArcGIS 10 Esri were used as geocoding databases. The Moran test was used to evaluate spatial correlation, and the Pearson chi-square test was used to analyze associations between scorpion stings and socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: The study evaluated 1,466 scorpion stings. Envenomations were more frequent among women (n = 908, 61.9%), and most patients were aged 13-28 years (n = 428, 29.2%). The Southern region of the city had the largest number of registered cases (n = 548, 37.4%), followed by the Western region (n = 510, 34.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Spatial analysis of scorpionism revealed an irregular occurrence in Campina Grande. Further, no association was observed between the socioeconomic factors analyzed and the geographic location of the scorpion envenomations. Detection of spatial areas with an increased risk of scorpionism can help prioritize adoption of preventive measures in these regions to reduce the associated incidence and morbidity.

Acidentes com animais peçonhentos no Brasil por sexo e idade / Accidents with poisonous animals in Brazil by age and sex

INTRODUÇÃO: acidentes com animais peçonhentos são uma emergência clínica frequente em vários países tropicais, principalmente nos campos e áreas rurais, constituindo um problema de Saúde Pública, inclusive pediátricaOBJETIVO: analisar a morbidade, mortalidade e letalidade de acordo com a faixa etária e sexo nos casos de envenenamentos por serpentes, escorpiões e aranhas no BrasilMÉTODO: Os dados sobre envenenamentos por serpentes, escorpiões e aranhas ocorridos no período de 2009 a 2013 foram obtidos na base de dados online do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação - SINAN do Ministério da SaúdeRESULTADOS: foi registrada uma média de 28.812 casos por ano de acidentes ofídicos, 60.370,8 com escorpiões e 25.786,4 com aranhas. A maioria dos óbitos foi causada por serpentes (119 por ano) e também apresentou maior letalidade (0,41%), seguida por escorpiões (79,6 óbitos) com letalidade de 0,13% e, aranhas (13,2) com menor letalidade (0,05%). Em indivíduos do sexo masculino ocorreram a maioria dos casos de acidentes ofídicos, enquanto que nos acidentes com escorpiões e aranhas foi observado pouca diferença na frequência entre homens e mulheres. A faixa etária com maior número de registros de envenenamentos foi a de 20 a 39 anosCONCLUSÕES: ocorre um aumento progressivo de casos de envenenamentos a partir do primeiro ano de idade até a faixa etária compreendida entre 20 a 39 anos e após esta, começa uma diminuição. Crianças, adolescentes e adultos idosos, constituem grupos mais vulneráveis por apresentarem maiores índices de letalidade, especialmente nos acidentes ofídicos e escorpiônicos.

INTRODUCTION: accidents with poisonous animals are a common clinical emergency in several tropical countries, mainly in the fields and rural areas, constituting a public health problem, including pediatric OBJECTIVE: The objective is to analyze the morbidity, mortality and lethality according to age and sex in cases of poisoning by snakes, scorpions and spiders in Brazil METHODS: data on poisoning by snakes, scorpions and spiders that occurred from 2009 to 2013 were collected in the online database of the Information System on Diseases of Compulsory Declaration (SINAN) of the Ministry of Health RESULTS: were recorded 28.812 cases of snake bites per year, 60.370,8 with scorpions and 25.786,4 with spiders. Most deaths were caused by snakes (119 per year) and also showed higher lethality (0.41%), followed by scorpions (79.6 deaths) with a lethality of 0.13% and spiders (13.2) and the lowest mortality (0.05%). In males individuals were most cases of snake bites, whereas in accidents scorpions and spiders was observed little difference in frequency between men and women. The age group with the largest number of poisonings records was 20-39 years CONCLUSIONS: there is a progressive increase in cases of poisoning from the first year of age until the age range 20-39 years, and after this, begins a decrease in cases. Children, adolescents and elderly adults are most vulnerable because they have higher lethality rates, especially in the snake and scorpion accidents.