An Epidemiological Survey of Scorpion Sting in Five Counties of North Khorasan Province, Iran, From ۲۰۰۷ to ۲۰۱۸

Background:Scorpion sting (SS) is an important public health hazard that may cause a potentially lethal condition especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Although scorpions are locally abundant in some parts of North Khorasan Province, SS has been poorly studied in this region. The current survey was carried out to investigate the epidemiological aspects of SS in North Khorasan Province, Iran. Methods:This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study collected and analyzed the data of SS cases admitted to medical centers of different counties in North Khorasan Province including Bojnurd, Shirvan, Esfarayen, Jajarm, and Raz from ۲۰۰۷ to ۲۰۱۸. The descriptive statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS software (version ۲۴), and logistic regression analyses were performed using the STATA software. Results:During the study period, ۵۴۰ SS cases were admitted to hospitals, of whom ۴۴ persons were hospitalized, and nearly half of them were male (۵۰.۲%). Most SS cases occurred indoors (۵۸.۴%). The mean age of the patients was ۳۵±۱۸.۰ years. Furthermore, the annual number of SS cases varied with an increase in ۲۰۱۳. The most common site of the sting was in the hands (۴۱.۸%) followed by feet (۴۰.۵%). The most common time for SS occurrence was ۱۲ a.m. to ۶ a.m. (۳۸%). The majority of victims admitted to the hospital less than ۳ hours after the sting (۸۴.۶%) and all of them were recovered. The results of multiple regression analysis indicated that the risk of hospitalization in people who had more than one bite was significantly higher than those who had been bitten once. Conclusion:Given the low average number of SS cases reported in the area compared to the south of Iran, SS does not seem to be an important health issue in this area except for Jajarm County.

کلیدواژه ها:

Scorpion sting ، Epidemiology ، Iran ، North Khorasan