SCORPION STINGS AND MANAGEMENT WITH REFERENCE TO EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo 11566

2 Military Medical Academy, Cairo, 11291, Egypt

Abstract

Scorpions are predatory arachnids of order Scorpiones (Phylum: Arthropoda, Kingdom: Animalia).
They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented
tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always ending with a stinger. The
sting may be painful or even deadly, depending on the species. Of 1,500 species of scorpions worldwide,
only about 20 to 25 are dangerous. Its’ venom is a mixture of compounds, including neurotoxins
that affect the victim's nervous system.

Keywords