The importance of accidents involving contact with scorpions can be expressed by their high
incidence and potential to cause cases of severe poisoning. These accidents are recognized by
the World Health Organization (WHO) as an emerging public health problem that is
sometimes overlooked. The objective of the study was to analyze the cases of accidents
caused by scorpions treated at the Hospital de Tr disease Tropical, located in the municipality
of Araguaína, in the north of the state of Tocantins, from April to November 2019. This is an
observational, descriptive study with a quantitative and qualitative approach. During the
period evaluated, 534 accidents involving venomous animals were reported and of these 138
(25.8%) of the cases were due to scorpions. Of the 113 patients evaluated, most were adults
with no difference between genders in the urban area (73.2%), from Araguaína-TO (76,99%),
with the presence of debris close to home in 62.5%. Scorpionic accidents were mostly mild
(84.07%), in the upper limbs (63.83%), with pain at the bite site (95%), starting in the first 15
minutes and considered moderate to high intensity by 72 , 32% of the injured. Other local
symptoms were edema (68.14%), erythema (74.34%) and local paresthesia or radiating to the
entire affected limb (38%). Anti-scorpion serum was used in 15.04% of the cases treated,
corroborating the frequency of moderate / severe cases (15.93%). The presence of two
paresthesia-like neurological manifestations has been described: perioral paresthesia and
tongue paresthesia. Perioral paresthesia is associated with females (OR= 3,36) and the
presence of tachycardia (OR=4,58). Only 12.77% of patients who underwent laboratory tests
showed changes. The specimens identified were: Tityus confluens, Tityus aff. matogrossensis
and Jaguajir agamemnon, which are animals described in the State of Tocantins. They are
species reported for the state of Tocantins and described for areas of cerrado and transition
between savannas and Amazon rainforest. The epidemiological profile reinforces the need for
continuous training of health professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of the
injured, aiming, in a timely manner, to identify the gender of the offending scorpion and the
clinical classification of the case to institute appropriate treatment. The strengthening of the
assistance area is essential to reduce the lethality of the disease, especially in the most
vulnerable groups.
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