How to Care for Your Child After a Scorpion Sting

This leaflet will provide you with information about scorpion sting symptoms and important treatment tips.

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What is a scorpion sting?

  • A scorpion sting is when a scorpion uses its stinger to inject venom (poison). Scorpions usually sting when they feel threatened.
  • Scorpions can live in and outside people’s homes, hiding in cracks or holes, in clothing, in shoes, under rocks, and in firewood.
  • A scorpion sting can happen if you accidentally step on a scorpion, disturb one while reaching into hidden spaces, or even while you’re getting dressed or getting into bed.
  • All scorpion species have venom. However, most scorpion types in Qatar are not dangerous and rarely cause severe symptoms.
  • It is usually difficult to identify the type of the scorpion that caused the sting.

  • Symptoms of a scorpion sting may start within 30 minutes after a sting, but some symptoms may show up a few hours later.
  • Severity of the symptoms depends the scorpion type.
  • Symptoms may include:

Local (sting area) symptoms – low-to-moderate:

  • Local pain at the sting area
  • Numbness
  • Skin redness
  • Swelling
  • Itching

    Generalized (whole-body) symptoms – severe:

  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Stomach pain
  • Difficulty breathing and/or swallowing
  • Drooling
  • Sweating
  • Fast or pounding heartbeat
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Muscle cramps and restlessness
  • Cold limbs
  • Allergic reactions

Do:

  • Take your child to the emergency department immediately, or call 999 for ambulance transfer.
  • Stay calm and call the Qatar Poison Center at 4003-1111 immediately. They can advise on how you can further help your child depending on the situation.
  • Remove tight clothing, jewelry, or shoes from the affected limb or sting area.
  • Note the time when the sting happened.
  • Wash the sting area with soap and water.
  • You can apply ice to the sting area to relieve pain.
  • You can also give your child pain medicines (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen).

   DO NOT:

  • Do not place a tourniquet (a tight band) or wrap a cloth tightly around the sting area.
  • Do not try to capture or kill the scorpion.
  • Do not try to suck the venom out or cut around the sting area.
  • Do not apply heat, electricity, or any substances to the sting.
  • Do not give any medicines other than pain killers before confirming the correct dose for your child with Qatar Poison Center.

  • The doctor at the emergency department will assess the severity of the sting by evaluating your child’s symptoms and performing vitals signs and blood tests if needed.
  • Treatment will depend on the severity of the sting:

 For local (sting area) symptoms:

  • Pain medicines to relieve pain (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen)
  • Anti-histamines (allergy medicines) to reduce itching and other skin reactions
  • Anti-nausea medicines to stop nausea and vomiting

  For generalized (whole-body) symptoms:

  • Anti-venom might be needed in some severe cases. However, anti-venom can cause severe allergic reactions, and should only be given at the hospital. Such severe cases are extremely rare in Qatar.

Go to the nearest emergency department, or call 999 for immediate ambulance transfer if your child:

  • Got stung by a scorpion.
  • Has any of the following symptoms:
  • Severe pain
  • Allergic reactions
  • Difficulty breathing and/or swallowing
  • Dizziness or loss of consciousness

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