BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuScorpionsThis article describes the effects of a scorpion sting.This article for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage a scorpion sting. If you or someone you are with is stung, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient Scorpion venom contains many toxins as well as the chemical histamine. Where Found This venom is found in scorpions and related species. More than 40 species of scorpions are found in the United States.The class of animals to which scorpions belong contains the largest number of venomous species known.Scorpion stings kill more people around the world than any other animal, except snakes (from snake bites). However, most varieties of North American scorpions are NOT venomous. The venomous ones in the United States live mainly in the southwestern deserts. Symptoms In mild cases, the only symptom may be a mild tingling or burning at the site of the sting.TinglingNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...Read Article Now Book Mark Article In severe cases, symptoms in different parts of the body may include:EYES AND EARSDouble vision LUNGSDifficulty breathing No breathing Rapid breathing NOSE, MOUTH, AND THROATDrooling Itching of the nose and throat Spasm of the larynx (voice box) Tongue that feels thick HEART AND BLOODIncreased or decreased heart rate Heart rateThe pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Irregular heartbeatIrregular heartbeatPalpitations are feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing. They can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck. You may:Have an unpl...Read Article Now Book Mark Article KIDNEYS AND BLADDERInability to hold in urine Inability to hold in urineStress urinary incontinence occurs when your bladder leaks urine during physical activity or exertion. It may happen when you cough, sneeze, lift so...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased urine outputDecreased urine outputDecreased urine output means that you produce less urine than normal. Most adults make at least 500 milliliters of urine in 24 hours (a little over ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article MUSCLES AND JOINTSMuscle spasmsMuscle spasmsMuscle cramps are when a muscle gets tight (contracts) without you trying to tighten it, and it does not relax. Cramps may involve all or part of on...Read Article Now Book Mark Article NERVOUS SYSTEMAnxiety Convulsions (seizures) ConvulsionsA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Paralysis Random movements of the head, eye, or neck Restlessness RestlessnessAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stiffness SKINHeightened sensitivity to touch in the area of the sting Sweating Abdominal cramps Inability to hold in stool Inability to hold in stoolBowel incontinence is the loss of bowel control, causing you to unexpectedly pass stool. This can range from sometimes leaking a small amount of sto...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea and vomiting Home Care Most stings from North American scorpions do not need treatment. Children 6 years and younger are more likely to have harmful effects from venomous types of scorpions.Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Place ice (wrapped in a clean cloth) on the site of the sting for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process. If the person has problems with blood circulation, decrease the time that the ice is on the area to prevent possible skin damage. Keep the affected area still, if possible, to prevent the venom from spreading. Loosen clothing and remove rings and other tight jewelry. Give the person diphenhydramine (Benadryl and other brands) by mouth if they can swallow. This antihistamine drug may be used alone for mild symptoms. Before Calling Emergency Have this information ready:The person's age, weight, and condition. Type of scorpion, if possible. Take a photo of the scorpion if safe to do so, but do not risk additional injury from it. The time of the sting. Location of the sting. Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the insect with you to the hospital, if possible. Make sure it is in a tightly closed container.The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The wound and symptoms will be treated. The person may receive:Blood and urine tests Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the throat, and breathing machine (ventilator) Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Fluids through a vein (by IV) Medicine to reverse the effect of the venom Medicine to treat symptoms Outlook (Prognosis) Death from scorpion stings rarely occurs in people older than 6 years. If symptoms rapidly become worse within the first 2 to 4 hours after the sting, a poor outcome is more likely. Symptoms may last several days or longer. Some deaths have occurred as late as weeks after the sting if complications develop.Scorpions are nocturnal predatory animals that usually spend the day under rocks, logs, or floors and in crevices. DO NOT put your hands or feet in these hiding places.Open ReferencesReferencesCurtis AM, Erickson TB. Venomous animal injuries. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 53.James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Parasitic infestations, stings, and bites. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 20.Suchard JR. Scorpion envenomation. In: Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS, eds. Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 44.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Review Date: 7/1/2023 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
ScorpionsThis article describes the effects of a scorpion sting.This article for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage a scorpion sting. If you or someone you are with is stung, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient Scorpion venom contains many toxins as well as the chemical histamine. Where Found This venom is found in scorpions and related species. More than 40 species of scorpions are found in the United States.The class of animals to which scorpions belong contains the largest number of venomous species known.Scorpion stings kill more people around the world than any other animal, except snakes (from snake bites). However, most varieties of North American scorpions are NOT venomous. The venomous ones in the United States live mainly in the southwestern deserts. Symptoms In mild cases, the only symptom may be a mild tingling or burning at the site of the sting.TinglingNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...Read Article Now Book Mark Article In severe cases, symptoms in different parts of the body may include:EYES AND EARSDouble vision LUNGSDifficulty breathing No breathing Rapid breathing NOSE, MOUTH, AND THROATDrooling Itching of the nose and throat Spasm of the larynx (voice box) Tongue that feels thick HEART AND BLOODIncreased or decreased heart rate Heart rateThe pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Irregular heartbeatIrregular heartbeatPalpitations are feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing. They can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck. You may:Have an unpl...Read Article Now Book Mark Article KIDNEYS AND BLADDERInability to hold in urine Inability to hold in urineStress urinary incontinence occurs when your bladder leaks urine during physical activity or exertion. It may happen when you cough, sneeze, lift so...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased urine outputDecreased urine outputDecreased urine output means that you produce less urine than normal. Most adults make at least 500 milliliters of urine in 24 hours (a little over ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article MUSCLES AND JOINTSMuscle spasmsMuscle spasmsMuscle cramps are when a muscle gets tight (contracts) without you trying to tighten it, and it does not relax. Cramps may involve all or part of on...Read Article Now Book Mark Article NERVOUS SYSTEMAnxiety Convulsions (seizures) ConvulsionsA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Paralysis Random movements of the head, eye, or neck Restlessness RestlessnessAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Stiffness SKINHeightened sensitivity to touch in the area of the sting Sweating Abdominal cramps Inability to hold in stool Inability to hold in stoolBowel incontinence is the loss of bowel control, causing you to unexpectedly pass stool. This can range from sometimes leaking a small amount of sto...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea and vomiting Home Care Most stings from North American scorpions do not need treatment. Children 6 years and younger are more likely to have harmful effects from venomous types of scorpions.Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Place ice (wrapped in a clean cloth) on the site of the sting for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process. If the person has problems with blood circulation, decrease the time that the ice is on the area to prevent possible skin damage. Keep the affected area still, if possible, to prevent the venom from spreading. Loosen clothing and remove rings and other tight jewelry. Give the person diphenhydramine (Benadryl and other brands) by mouth if they can swallow. This antihistamine drug may be used alone for mild symptoms. Before Calling Emergency Have this information ready:The person's age, weight, and condition. Type of scorpion, if possible. Take a photo of the scorpion if safe to do so, but do not risk additional injury from it. The time of the sting. Location of the sting. Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the insect with you to the hospital, if possible. Make sure it is in a tightly closed container.The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The wound and symptoms will be treated. The person may receive:Blood and urine tests Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth into the throat, and breathing machine (ventilator) Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) Fluids through a vein (by IV) Medicine to reverse the effect of the venom Medicine to treat symptoms Outlook (Prognosis) Death from scorpion stings rarely occurs in people older than 6 years. If symptoms rapidly become worse within the first 2 to 4 hours after the sting, a poor outcome is more likely. Symptoms may last several days or longer. Some deaths have occurred as late as weeks after the sting if complications develop.Scorpions are nocturnal predatory animals that usually spend the day under rocks, logs, or floors and in crevices. DO NOT put your hands or feet in these hiding places.Open ReferencesReferencesCurtis AM, Erickson TB. Venomous animal injuries. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 53.James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Parasitic infestations, stings, and bites. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 20.Suchard JR. Scorpion envenomation. In: Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS, eds. Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 44.