CARACTERIZAÇÃO DOS ACIDENTES CAUSADOS POR PICADA DE ESCORPIÃO ENTRE OS ANOS DE 2011 E 2021 NO MUNICÍPIO DE TRÊS LAGOAS-MS: AVALIAÇÃO DAS VARIÁVEIS SOCIODEMOGRÁFICAS E DE SAÚDE

Abstract

Scorpions are arthropods belonging to the class Arachnida and are recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a public health problem that is often neglected. The lifestyle habits of the population in large urban centers may have contributed to the large increase in the number of scorpion accidents since 2000, when cases became compulsorily notifiable. According to data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), around 2,456,217 accidents involving venomous animals were reported in Brazil between 2007 and 2021, with accidents involving scorpions having the highest incidence, accounting for 51% of all reports. The aim of this study was to characterize accidents caused by scorpion stings in the municipality of Três Lagoas between 2011 and 2021. This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional and retrospective study using secondary data. The data was collected by the Information Technology (IT) service of the Três Lagoas City Hall - MS through copies of the Epidemiological Investigation Forms provided by the Epidemiological Surveillance/Disease and Illness Surveillance. The findings were provided in the form of a database forwarded by the Municipal Epidemiological Surveillance where the confidential and personal information of the patients was duly concealed. In total, 599 cases over a period of 11 years were analyzed. The data showed that there was an increase in the number of notifications over the years. In 2011, 11 cases were reported and in 2021, 112 cases. Most accidents were mild and occurred in urban areas. Few individuals had reactions or complications (local or systemic). The evaluation revealed that accidents were more frequent in females and children, the home was the main place of occurrence, and the season with the highest number of cases recorded was spring, with 212 cases, followed by winter, with 137 cases. Regardless of classification, manifestations and/or complications, all cases progressed to cure, with none progressing to death. Bearing in mind that scorpion accidents have several determinants, it is extremely important for health professionals and the population to be constantly alert and up-to-date with recent information in order to detect accident hotspots.