Scorpion stings are not something that can always be avoided. The reason is, the scorpion itself often hides in places that are difficult to see. If you have been stung by a scorpion, there is no need to panic. The following first aid steps will help you deal with it.
Scorpions can be found all over the world, including in Indonesia. This animal has the ability to kill its prey by injecting poison from a stinger located at the end of its tail.
Scorpions don't actually attack humans on purpose. They sting only for self-protection. Therefore, when you unknowingly touch or kick a scorpion, you may be stung by it.
Scorpion stings are usually harmless, unless you have an allergy to scorpion stings. When stung by a scorpion, you can take the following first aid steps to relieve the symptoms caused.
Scorpion Sting Risk Factors
Scorpions often hide in firewood, clothes, bed linen, shoes, and garbage buckets. Therefore, you must be careful when moving or cleaning these objects.
Scorpions are more commonly seen during the summer and are often found in mountainous areas. Scorpions can sting anywhere on the body, but scorpion stings usually occur in the hands, arms, legs, and feet.
Additionally, you may encounter more dangerous scorpions when traveling to certain countries, such as the United States. You could even take them home by accident, as scorpions can hide in clothes and suitcases.
Scorpion Sting Symptoms
When exposed to a scorpion sting, you may experience localized symptoms at the site of the sting and symptoms due to the spread of scorpion venom. The following are some of the local symptoms that you can experience from being stung by a scorpion:
- Pain that can get worse
- Numbness and tingling
- Swollen
- Feels warm
Meanwhile, the symptoms that you can experience due to toxins that have spread throughout the body include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Muscle twitch
- Unusual or unnatural head, neck, and eye movements
- Uncontrolled drooling from the mouth
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- High blood pressure
- Heart rate gets faster
- Feeling restless
First Aid for Scorpion Stings
The following are first aid steps that you can immediately take if you are stung by a scorpion:
- Clean the stinging wound with mild soap and water.
- Cold compresses to the stung area to reduce pain.
- Do not eat or drink if you have difficulty swallowing.
- If you have no difficulty swallowing, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as paracetamol.
- If you have a mild allergic skin reaction, such as itching at the site of the sting, use an antihistamine to relieve it. However, if there is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening, such as itching all over the body, wheezing, dizziness, chest pain, or shortness of breath, then immediately seek treatment at the nearest hospital.
If the scorpion is still at the scene, grab the scorpion with tongs and put it in a jar to secure it. Do not pick up the scorpion by hand directly. This is to prevent the scorpion from stinging you again.
Scorpion Sting Prevention
Scorpions tend to avoid contact with humans. However, if you live in an area where scorpions are common, prevent contact by taking the following steps:
- Check and shake off gardening gloves, boots, and clothing that you haven't used in a long time and when you're about to use them.
- When traveling to areas where dangerous scorpions are common, especially if you camp or live in a rural location, wear shoes and long pants, and check your clothes, bed linen, and bags frequently.
- Remove piles of stone or wood from around your house, and do not store firewood near the house, especially in the house.
- Check your home environment regularly. If you find a scorpion, use tongs to keep it away from crowds or dwellings.
Most scorpion stings are harmless and do not require medical treatment. However, you should still consult a doctor as a preventive measure if you are stung by a scorpion even if you only experience mild symptoms or do not feel any symptoms at all.
If symptoms are severe, you may need to be hospitalized. Your doctor may give you a sedative if you have muscle spasms or other medications to treat high blood pressure, pain, and anxiety.
Written by:
dr. Sonny Seputra, M.Ked.Klin, Sp.B, FINACS
(Surgeon Specialist)