Scorpions or scorpions are animals belonging to the class of arachnids that inhabit areas with little vegetation and whose activity is mostly nocturnal; they are especially common in the deserts of Mexico and Arizona, as well as the subtropical areas of South America.
If the scorpion is considered a dangerous species, it is mainly due to its venom, since scorpion bites, in addition to being painful, can carry great health risks. The severity of the bite, of course, will depend on the type of scorpion venom and the person affected, as children and the elderly are more vulnerable to these attacks. Do you want to know what to do in case of scorpion bite? Below from we offer you some guidelines and tips.
Symptoms of scorpion bite
When one is attacked by a scorpion, a number of symptoms occur that vary depending on the immune system of the affected person and the quantity and quality of poison that has been injected. Usually, the most common signs are immediate pain in the area of the bite as well as swelling, tingling sensation and warmth.
These symptoms make up a clinical picture whose severity depends on the species of scorpion and the type of person harmed, taking into account that children and the elderly can have more serious complications. It must be said that in most cases the scorpion bite is not lethal. With this in mind, in we are going to cite the different symptoms of scorpion picket:
Mild or moderate cases
In these cases, the bites may present the following symptoms (these can take up to two days):
- Pain in the affected area and feeling of warmth.
- Redness of the area.
- Numbness of the area surrounding the bite.
- Salivation production.
Severe cases
Severe cases of scorpion bite include the following signs, which can appear up to a few hours after the bite:
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting.
- Fever.
- Tachycardia.
- Hypertension.
- Muscle spasms.
- Blurred vision.
- Abnormal and random eye, head and neck movements.
- Sweating.
- In the worst case, the scorpion bite can produce a cardiac arrest that causes the death of the person, although this is not common.
What to do in case of scorpion bite
If you have been attacked by a scorpion or scorpion, you should know that the poison can take several minutes or hours to take effect, so it is important that you react immediately. In any case, before a scorpion picket, it is best to go immediately to a health center.
The reason why it is essential to go immediately to the doctor is because he will have to determine the type of scorpion that has bitten you (Asian black scorpion, Argentine scorpion, emperor scorpion …). Depending on your symptoms, they will be able to see if it is one type or another and will be able to propose one treatment or another. Anyway, there are some first aid that you should take into account in case of bite. We explain them to you:
- Wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water to clean it.
- Apply a cold damp cloth over the bite at 10-minute intervals to reduce pain.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. However, if the affected person has difficulty swallowing, it is important that they do not ingest any type of liquid or food.
- You have to try to stay still and calm to prevent the poison from spreading.
- If possible, capture the scorpion so that they can identify which species it is and thus recognize the toxicity of its venom, so they can recommend a more effective treatment.
Is there any home treatment for scorpion bite?
As we have advanced, if you wonder what to do in case of scorpion bite, the first thing you should know is that it is essential that you go to a doctor. The scorpion picket can have a wide range of consequences, so it is best not to risk it and put yourself in the hands of professionals.
However, if the pain is very mild and there are no serious symptoms or allergic reactions in adults (as children always have to be taken to the doctor immediately), in we share with you some effective and non-dangerous home treatments for scorpion bite.
- Mango leaf: Its sage is very effective in treating scorpion bites as it helps reduce pain and inflammation if applied immediately after the attack.
- Mint: Mint is also a very good home remedy to reduce the pain of scorpion bite and reduce inflammation. Therefore, we recommend applying a small amount of juice freshly extracted from its leaves after the attack.
- Baking soda: for the scorpion picket, baking soda can also be very effective, so our recommendation is that you prepare a paste by mixing the baking soda with a little water. This home treatment for scorpion bite will reduce inflammation and pain.
Remember that if symptoms persist or you feel serious complications after a scorpion bite, you should visit a doctor immediately to prescribe appropriate treatment.
How to prevent scorpion bite
If you are in an area where the presence of scorpions is common, there are some recommendations you can follow to prevent these insects from biting you. These scorpion bite prevention recommendations are:
- Keep the place clean and neat: it is essential that you keep your house well clean to avoid the presence of these arachnids. Be sure to always throw away the garbage and that no waste accumulates, and above all remember to protect your hands well when you go to do this exam.
- Do not go barefoot: if you have to move through unclean areas or with a pile of debris, remember never to go barefoot. In addition, from we advise you to inspect the shoes before putting them on.
- Keep a good control of pipes and walls: if you think there may be scorpions in your house, it is essential that you control the pipes and repair the cracks in the walls. You should also inspect your bedding daily before bedtime, as well as check the closets, drawers and gaps in the room.
- Avoid accumulation of debris: this advice is especially important in rural areas, where the presence of scorpions or scorpions is much more common. If you have a garden, always cut the grass and make sure you keep it clean. Don't accumulate firewood or other debris, and keep in mind that poultry are large scorpion predators, which can be a plus point for you.
If you have complied with these tips and still believe that there are scorpions in your house and do not know how to eliminate them, you will have to use pesticides to make them disappear permanently. In this other article we talk about How to make natural insecticides, while in this one we talk more specifically about How to scare away scorpions.