Analysis of variables related to fatal outcomes of scorpion envenomation in children and adolescents in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2001 to 2005

Abstracts

OBJECTIVES: To describe and evaluate notified scorpion envenomation incidents in children and adolescents in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais between 2001 and 2005, and to calculate the incidence and mortality and identify factors related to fatal outcomes. METHODS: Analysis of 14,406 mandatory notifications of scorpion envenomation involving patients aged 0 to 19 years in Minas Gerais. After performing a univariate analysis of factors related to mortality (p < 0.25), multivariate analysis was carried out using logistic regression. RESULTS: The number of notifications of accidents involving scorpions increased over the period. The age group that suffered most accidents was 5 to 9 years. Local pain was reported in 95% of cases. The majority of cases were classified as mild (60%) and antivenom was given to 42% of this population. The mean mortality rate was 0.7%. The state capital, Belo Horizonte, was the municipality with the greatest occurrence of incidents. Each hour's delay before receiving first medical care was associated with a 9% increase in the odds ratio for the likelihood of death, which was 46 times greater in the severe group than in the moderate and mild groups. A decrease of 1 year in patient age was associated with a 13% increase in the odds ratio for the likelihood of death. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in the number of notifications over the period studied. The following factors were identified as linked with a higher odds ratio for the likelihood of death: delayed first medical care, being classified as a severe case, and younger age of victim.

Scorpion envenomation; envenomation; epidemiology; scorpion bite; adolescent; child

OBJETIVOS: Descrever e avaliar os acidentes escorpiônicos notificados no estado de Minas Gerais, em crianças e adolescentes, no período de 2001 a 2005, e calcular incidência e mortalidade e identificar fatores relacionados à evolução para óbito. MÉTODOS: Estudo de 14.406 fichas de notificação obrigatória do escorpionismo em Minas Gerais, de pacientes de 0 a 19 anos. Após análise univariada, com fatores relacionados a mortalidade (p < 0,25), foi realizada regressão logística para análise multivariada. RESULTADOS: Houve aumento das notificações dos acidentes escorpiônicos ao longo dos anos. A faixa etária em que mais ocorreu acidente foi de 5 a 9 anos. Dor local esteve presente em 95% dos casos. A maioria dos casos foi classificada como leve (60%), com utilização do soro em 42% dessa população. A letalidade média foi de 0,7%. O município de maior ocorrência do acidente foi a capital Belo Horizonte. O atraso de cada 1 hora até o primeiro atendimento representou aumento de 9% na razão de chance de evolução para óbito, que foi 46 vezes maior no grupo grave do que nos grupos moderado e leve. Para cada ano a menos na idade do paciente houve um aumento de 13% na razão de chance de evolução para óbito. CONCLUSÕES: Houve aumento do número de notificações ao longo dos anos estudados. Foram identificados como fatores com maior razão de chance de evoluir para óbito: atraso para o primeiro atendimento, ser classificado como grave e menor idade.

Escorpionismo; envenenamento; epidemiologia; picada por escorpião; adolescente; criança

en_v84n6a07

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Analysis of variables related to fatal outcomes of scorpion envenomation in children and adolescents in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2001 to 2005

Cláudia M. N. Guerra^I; Luís F. A. Carvalho^I; Enrico A. Colosimo^II; Heliane B. M. Freire^III

^I

^IIPós-doutor. Professor adjunto, Departamento de Estatística, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

^IIIDoutora. Professora associada, Departamento de Pediatria, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

METHODS: Analysis of 14,406 mandatory notifications of scorpion envenomation involving patients aged 0 to 19 years in Minas Gerais. After performing a univariate analysis of factors related to mortality (p < 0.25), multivariate analysis was carried out using logistic regression.

RESULTS: The number of notifications of accidents involving scorpions increased over the period. The age group that suffered most accidents was 5 to 9 years. Local pain was reported in 95% of cases. The majority of cases were classified as mild (60%) and antivenom was given to 42% of this population. The mean mortality rate was 0.7%. The state capital, Belo Horizonte, was the municipality with the greatest occurrence of incidents. Each hour's delay before receiving first medical care was associated with a 9% increase in the odds ratio for the likelihood of death, which was 46 times greater in the severe group than in the moderate and mild groups. A decrease of 1 year in patient age was associated with a 13% increase in the odds ratio for the likelihood of death.

CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in the number of notifications over the period studied. The following factors were identified as linked with a higher odds ratio for the likelihood of death: delayed first medical care, being classified as a severe case, and younger age of victim.

Keywords: Scorpion envenomation, envenomation, epidemiology, scorpion bite, adolescent, child.

Introduction

Scorpion stings are a public health problem in some of the states in Brazil, with large numbers of cases notified each year, traditionally in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo.^1-3 Scorpion envenomation still causes deaths in Brazil, despite the availability of antivenom and advances in critical care medicine, which plays an important role in severe cases.

The majority of stings occur during hot rainy months,^2-4 have a benign course and a lethality of 0.58%. Deaths have been linked to an increased frequency of children² under 14 years of age being stung by Tityus serrulatus.¹

Scorpions are carnivorous animals that primarily feed on insects.⁵ They have nocturnal habits and spend the day hidden in dark and humid places,^1,2 and can be encountered inside houses, in domestic rubbish, behind skirting and in cellars and attics.⁵ They can enter residences via the sewage system.⁶Tityus serrulatus lives for 3 to 5 years and can survive for many months without food or water. It reproduces by parthenogenesis.^3,6 These characteristics have made it very difficult to combat, since they make dispersal of the species more likely.

The venom causes adrenergic and/or cholinergic substances to be released.^7,8 Recent studies have detected high levels of cytokines in circulation, which may participate in the genesis of the changes caused by scorpion envenomation.⁹ Patients are generally agitated with localized pain, sialorrhea, diaphoresis and vomiting, and may become torpid or comatose. They may present conditions ranging from mild tachypnea to acute pulmonary edema (APE).¹⁰ There will often be tachycardia. Occasionally, arrhythmia and transitory systemic arterial hypertension,¹¹ arterial hypotension and even circulatory shock, which is generally cardiogenic, will also be observed.^7,8,11

The Brazilian Ministry of Health published a manual in 2001¹ that includes a clinical classification of scorpion stings as: mild, when there is localized pain and paresthesia; moderate, when there is discrete sialorrhea, diaphoresis vomiting and nausea and agitation, tachypnea and tachycardia; or severe, when, in addition to the above, one or more of the following: profuse and uncontrollable vomiting, profuse diaphoresis, intense sialorrhea, prostration, convulsions, coma, bradycardia, heart failure, pulmonary edema and/or shock.

Diagnosis is based on clinical history of a sting or sudden illness, particularly in endemic areas, combined with recognition of symptomology and laboratory test results suggestive of scorpion envenomation: hyperglycemia, hyperamylasemia and elevated creatine phosphokinase which is increased by rhabdomyolysis¹² and its cardiac fraction.^1,13 Further tests are generally needed: hemagram,¹³ arterial blood gas analysis,^13,14 chest X-ray,¹³ electrocardiogram^9-18 and echocardiogram.^9,13 To confirm diagnosis, the venom in circulation can be assayed using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), although this is not yet available for clinical practice.^1,13

Treatment in mild cases basically consists of pain management.^1,13 For moderate and severe cases and where the victim is a child less than 3 years old, scorpion antivenom is indicated, administering two to three ampoules in moderate cases and four to six in severe cases. The antivenom is given intravenously, as quickly as possible, in order to neutralize venom in the circulation.^1,19

The objectives of this study were: to describe and analyze the notifications of scorpion stings suffered by children and adolescents in the state of Minas Gerais between 2001 and 2005; to calculate their incidence and lethality; and to identify factors related with fatal outcomes.

Methods

All notifications of scorpion envenomation of children and adolescents (from 0 to 19 years) occurring in the state of Minas Gerais from 2001 to 2005 and entered on the database of the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sinan - Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação) were analyzed. A total of 201 cases were excluded because the neither the ages nor dates of birth of the patients were known.

The National Program for the Control of Accidents with Poisonous Animals (Programa Nacional de Controle de Acidentes por Animais Peçonhentos) has existed since 1988 and Sinan was made a part of it when compulsory notification of scorpion envenomation was introduced in Brazil. The objective of the program is to improve the management of accidents caused by poisonous animals. In 1998 the health service was computerized and Sinan was put into operation. Since that date the system has been improved and an increasing number of notifications have been received. From the year 2000 onwards there was an impressive increase in the number of notifications.

Sinan provides a standard unified notification form for all poisonous animals. This study analyzed only those data relating to scorpion envenomation. All variables on the form are collected categorically: (1) yes, (2) no and (9) unknown. The form offers the following scorpion species options: Tityus serrulatus, Tityus bahiensis, Tityus stigmurus, Bothriurus, other species and species unknown. There is also a severity classification based on the patient's clinical presentation according to the criteria in the 2001 Manual published by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.¹

Epi-Info (version 6.04) was used to analyze data that had been tabulated on TabWin. Proportions were compared using the chi-square test or the Fisher test when the expected value of the cell was less than five. Odds ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Factors that univariate analysis indicated had a relationship with mortality at p < 0.25 were selected for multivariate analysis by logistic regression, carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). In the final model, p < 0.05 was defined as the cut-off point for statistical significance. This project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) under protocol number ETIC 037/06.

Results

A total of 14,406 incidents involving children and adolescents aged up to 19 years notified in the state of Minas Gerais from 2001 to 2005 were studied. There was a progressive increase in the number of notifications from year to year (2,116, 2,656, 2,776, 3,182, and 3,676, respectively) and male victims predominated, with 55% of cases. The greatest number of envenomations occurred during hot and humid months, with the majority during September, October, November and December.

In 40% of the sample it was possible to identify the species; 87% of these patients had been stung by Tityus serrulatus. No correlation was detected between scorpion species and severity of clinical status. Of those cases where the place that the accident occurred was recorded, 7,797 (57%) were in urban areas and 5,910 (43%) were in rural areas. The odds ratio that a patient stung in a rural area would die was 2.48 times greater than when the accident occurred in an urban area (p < 0.001).

The age group that suffered most accidents was 5 to 9 years, with 4,217 cases (29%); the age group least affected was less than 1 year old, with 405 cases (3%). There were 2,912 cases (20%) in the 1 to 4 years age group; 3,624 cases (25%) in 10 to 14-year-olds; and 3,248 cases (23%) in the 15 to 19 years group, (p < 0.001).

With relation to the clinical manifestations, 95% of the patients described pain on admission and 27% suffered vomiting (Table 1).

With relation to severity of the cases, 60% were considered mild, 23% moderate and 7% severe, while 10% were of unknown severity. The majority of severe cases (77%) were children less than 9 years old. The younger the age the more severe the event (p < 0.001).

A linear relationship was identified between case severity classification and the frequency of death, i.e., the more severe the case classification, the greater the number of deaths. The severe cases had an odds ratio for the likelihood of death that was 820.47 times than the mild cases (Table 2).

In addition to the increase in the number of cases notified over the years, there was also an increase in the number of ampoules of scorpion antivenom used each year: 4,814, 5,388, 5,699, 6,043 and 6,728, respectively. Lethality varies (0.5 to 1.0%) over the years analyzed, with a mean of 0.7% for the 5-year period. The variation in the number of deaths over these years was not significant (p = 0.05).

The greater the period elapsed between the sting and first medical care, the greater the number of deaths. It was observed that among those seen between 6 and 12 hours after the sting, death occurred 8.77 times more often in comparison with those seen during the first hour (p = 0.003).

Lethality varied according to age group, being greatest among patients aged 1 to 4 years. The odds ratio for the likelihood of death among these cases was 24.36 times greater than for patients aged 15 to 19 years (Table 3).

Of the 14,406 cases of scorpion envenomation, 8,254 (57%) were given specific antivenom. Among the mild cases, 42% (3,613 patients) were given antivenom, while 92% (3,099) of the moderate and 95% (930) of the severe cases received antivenom. A total of 28,672 ampoules were used, 10,950 given to patients with mild scorpion envenomation, 10,821 to moderate patients and 4,353 to severe cases (p < 0.0001); 2,548 ampoules were used in cases whose severity was ignored. In 8,013 notifications the number of ampoules administered was provided; a total of 27,496 were administered in these cases; with a mean of 3.43 ampoules and a standard deviation of 1.39 (1 to 15 ampoules), median of 4 ampoules and interquartile range 25-75% (IQ25-75%) of 2-4 ampoules. The lower the age of the patient the greater the use of specific antivenom (p = 0.001).

A univariate analysis was performed for each of the symptoms on admission with relation to the chance of death, and several factors were identified with statistical significance (p < 0.25): diarrhea, vomiting, APE, hypotension, respiratory failure, oliguria, myalgia, living in a rural area, time between sting and first medical care, young patients and case severity.

The multivariate analysis identified five factors that were significantly related to increased mortality from a statistical perspective (Table 4).

Each extra hour's delay before first medical care increased the odds ratio for the likelihood of death by 9%. The odds ratio for the likelihood of death for the severe subset was 46 times greater than for the mild and moderate subset. The odds ratio for the likelihood of death among hypotense patients was 2.7 times greater than for patients without hypotension on admission. The odds ratio for the likelihood of death increased by 13% for each year by which patient age reduced. The odds ratio for death for patients with respiratory failure on admission was 6 times greater than for patients without this symptom.

The municipality with the greatest occurrence of scorpion envenomation incidents was Belo Horizonte, followed by Governador Valadares and then Montes Claros. The greatest incidence was in Conceição das Alagoas (629/100,000 inhabitants); the greatest mortality in Pavão (0.1310/1,000 inhabitants); and the greatest lethality was in the municipality of Santa Luzia (14.29%).

Discussion

The progressive increase in notifications that was detected by this study may be the result of a more efficient system, but it could also be due to an increasing number of incidents.

In Brazil, Tityus serrulatus is considered an opportunistic scorpion species, i.e. it survive natural selection by having greater ecological plasticity and because it multiplies rapidly. This explains its wide distribution across areas of Southeast Brazil and part of Bolivia, via the state of Rondônia,²⁰ which had not been described before.

The greatest number of incidents occurred in the state capital Belo Horizonte. This city was built on scorpion-infested land,^3,11 with quarries, ravines, marble mines and old buildings. The scorpions are constantly being evicted from their natural habitat by the city's growth. Living side-by-side with the human population means that the risk of incident is very high.^3,4

With relation to the predominance of cases in hot and humid months, there is a report that scorpions are more active during these periods, primarily as a result of reproduction.⁴

There was no correlation that had significance from a statistical perspective between the species of scorpion identified and the severity of the clinical case. This is probably due to the small percentage of cases in which the species were identified (40%), with predominance of Tityus serrulatus in 87% of identified cases, and also due to the small number of "other species" (13%).

The age group least affected was < 1 year, which agrees with a study carried out in Belo Horizonte between 1990 and 1997.³ In that study, children less than 1 year old accounted for 0.1% of the study population, which is because exposure to high-risk places is necessary for incidents to occur. At this age, children are more restricted to their cots and pushchairs or are being held or are on the floor of the residence.

There is consensus that scorpions do not only attack and sting when they feel threatened, which explains the high number of stings to upper limbs (46%) while handling dangerous material, which turns out to house or hide scorpions, generally dark and humid places.²

The majority of the severe cases (77%) affected children under 9 years old, which is attributable to the higher proportion of venom injected with relation to body surface area, resulting in higher concentrations in serum.²¹ According to Rezende et al., the severity of a scorpion sting is related to the concentration of the venom in plasma.²²

It is known that several factors have an effect on lethality in different regions and countries (lethality is 7.6% in Tunisia²³ and 23% in Nigeria),²⁴ primarily the type of scorpion and the availability of species-specific antivenom. The mean lethality found here was 0.7%, which is discretely elevated when compared with data from the general populations of Minas Gerais, Bahia and São Paulo states held on Sinan for 2001 to 2005: 0.24, 0.32 and 0.06%, respectively. This is the result of exclusively analyzing the pediatric age group. Although the increase in lethality described in the literature for the extremes of age was not observed, children less than 1 year old did have an odds ratio for the probability of death that was 12.55 times greater than the adolescents aged 15 to 19 years.

The unfavorable outcomes among patients who arrived at admission in a severe condition is the result, among other causes, of the higher serum concentration of the venom and increased bonding to its areas of activity, already having initiated pathological changes. The increased length of time before first medical care (antivenom) allows more and more venom to bind to its sites of activity, which can worsen prognosis, since the antivenom neutralizes venom in circulation. The need to administer antivenom early to increase efficacy is therefore emphasized.

The majority of Brazilian and international authors use antivenom therapy and accept its efficacy. In contrast, Gueron, from Israel, is the most enthusiastic author who claims they are ineffective.²⁵ In this wide-ranging discussion, certain factors should be taken into consideration. It is known that in order to achieve the greatest efficacy from antivenom, it should be species-specific, well-conserved, administered as early as possible^1,13 and at a dosage that is sufficient to neutralize all of the venom in circulation.²² Generally, to guarantee fast neutralization of the venom, antivenom will be given intravenously,²⁶ rapidly and with no premedication to avert supposed reactions to it.^1,13

In a study carried out at a center of excellence in Israel, Bentur et al.²⁷ stated that the different species associated with the majority of mild cases (primarily in the north and central regions of Israel) and the rapid absorption of the venom from the species responsible for the greatest severity (Leiurus quinquestriatus) explained the lack of efficacy of antivenom in that country and was why it is not used there.

This study has emphasized the importance of using scorpion antivenom in Brazil, since delays in administering it were directly correlated with increased numbers of deaths.

Many of the patients with mild scorpion envenomation among the cases studied for this analysis were given scorpion antivenom, which suggests this treatment is being abused. It could also suggest that cases are being incorrectly classified in terms of severity or that patients arrived with mild symptoms on admission and progressed to more dangerous forms, changing classification, and therefore requiring antivenom therapy.

The use of antivenom in mild cases may imply unnecessary risks and expenses for patients and institutions. Of the 28,672 ampoules used during the period studied, 10,959 were used for mild cases, greatly increasing treatment costs. The current cost of each ampoule is R$ 21.24, and so R$ 232,769.16 was spent on mild cases.

Sixteen patients with severe cases were not given specific antivenom. This raises the suspicion that the treating professional lacked knowledge, that there was no antivenom at the treatment center or that severity was classified incorrectly on admission.

Incidence rates were much higher in small municipalities, which, although the absolute number of cases was smaller, indicates a high risk for such small populations. Since incidence is a relative population index, it allows better comparisons between populations, reflecting differences in health (socioeconomic) status between towns.

Lethality was inversely proportional to the total number of cases. In Belo Horizonte, lethality was 0.16%, while in Montes Claros, which had the third highest number of incidents, there were no deaths from scorpion envenomation during the period. It is known that, in areas with a greater incidence, in addition to appropriate infrastructure and trained services, the population themselves are also aware of the severity of incidents and the urgent need for medical treatment. In small municipalities, in addition to possible transportation delays, there may also be a lack of preparation to deal with isolated cases, influencing prognosis.

Despite the large sample and the fact that it covers 5 years, this study is limited by being based on retrospective analysis of a database populated from varying sources (different health professionals), some incomplete. There is also the possibility of typing errors and of under notification in certain regions.

Conclusions

The results of this study have revealed an increase in the number of notified cases of scorpion envenomation in the state of Minas Gerais over the five-year period. Incidents predominantly affected males, occurred during hot and rainy months and were generally secondary to stings by Tityus serrulatus. The observed lethality was low, but increased time between being stung and first medical care, younger age of victims and cases classified as severe were all factors related to death.

References

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Correspondence

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  13 Jan 2009
• Date of issue
  Dec 2008

History

• Received
  26 May 2008
• Accepted
  03 Aug 2008