EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF SCORPION ACCIDENTS ATTENDED IN A NORTHEAST CAPITAL

Abstract

Scorpion Accidents are a public health issue in nearly all capitals of Brazil, especially in the Northeast region due to the climate and environment that favor scorpion proliferation. This makes it necessary to investigate the most vulnerable populations and the most prevalent types of accidents to enable the planning of more appropriate health, care, and preventive actions suited to reality. Thus, the present study aims to characterize the epidemiological profile of reported scorpion accidents in the municipality of João Pessoa, PB. This is an epidemiological, quantitative study, using secondary data through DATASUS. The sample was limited to notifications recorded from 2016 to 2022, using a form containing sociodemographic and clinical variables during October 2023. The results were presented in a table using absolute frequency, which constitutes simple descriptive statistics. An increase in the incidence of scorpionism was observed in almost every month of the year, primarily affecting young people, adults, and the elderly, predominantly females, mixed-race individuals, and those with a low level of education. The site of the sting was mostly on bodily extremities, with cases classified as mild, minimal administration of antivenom therapy, and a high rate of recovery among the reported cases. On the other hand, there were gaps in data recording, with a significant frequency marking the option as "unknown" or left blank. There is a need to implement strategies to protect extremities during the handling of materials prone to scorpion hiding, proper use of antivenom therapy, and training for professionals on filling out notification forms to more accurately outline the epidemiological profile of scorpion accidents.