How to Treat a Scorpion Sting

Call emergency services if necessary. If the victim exhibits symptoms beyond mild pain and swelling, such as muscle spasms, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions, or symptoms similar to a snake bite, call emergency services immediately. You should also call for help if you suspect the scorpion is a dangerous species (refer to the scorpion identification section), or if the victim is a child, elderly, or someone with heart or lung conditions.

• Find emergency contact numbers online for different countries.

Contact a poison control center for advice. If immediate emergency care isn't necessary, call a poison control center to describe your symptoms and seek expert guidance. If your local poison control center isn't listed below, search online using your region's name and the keyword 'poison control center.' If no local number is available, call one of the long-distance numbers provided, choosing the location closest to you.

• In the U.S., call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222, or use this database to find the nearest poison control center.
• If outside the U.S., locate a poison control center using the World Health Organization's database.

Describe the victim over the phone. The victim's age and estimated weight are crucial details that help medical professionals assess the risk and recommend treatment. If the victim has allergies or pre-existing medical conditions, especially to insect bites or medications, inform the emergency services or poison control center.

• Additionally, provide the exact time of the sting if possible. If unsure, mention when the injury was first noticed.

Describe the scorpion to the medical assistance personnel over the phone. Emergency responders may not offer advice over the phone, but poison control centers often request detailed descriptions of the scorpion. Refer to the scorpion identification section for danger signs and how to capture the scorpion if it's still nearby.

Find someone to monitor the victim and take them to the hospital if necessary. Scorpion venom can cause involuntary muscle movements, making it unsafe for the victim to drive or walk if severe symptoms develop. Arrange for someone with a car or other transportation to take the victim to the hospital if ambulance services are unavailable. Do not leave the victim alone for at least 24 hours, and monitor them for a week if symptoms worsen.

Seek medical attention if severe symptoms occur. Regardless of the situation, children, infants, the elderly, and individuals with heart or lung conditions require medical care if stung by a scorpion. However, most scorpion stings can be treated at home, although the most dangerous venom requires specialized treatment. Seek immediate medical help if you notice any of the following symptoms.

• Vomiting, sweating, drooling, or foaming at the mouth
• Uncontrolled urination or bowel movements
• Muscle twitching or spasms, including involuntary movements of the head, neck, eyes, or unsteady walking
• Increased or irregular heart rate
• Difficulty breathing, swallowing, speaking, or seeing
• Severe swelling due to an allergic reaction

Locate the sting site. Scorpion stings may or may not cause significant swelling. However, all scorpion stings result in sharp pain or a burning sensation upon being stung, followed by a tingling or numb feeling. The affected area is usually on the lower body but can occur anywhere on the body.

Wash the sting area with soap and water. Carefully remove clothing around the wound and gently clean the area. This step helps eliminate any remaining venom traces around the sting and keeps the wound clean to reduce the risk of infection.

Keep the affected area still and positioned below the heart. Unlike some other injuries, scorpion stings should never be elevated above the heart, as this can cause the venom to spread more quickly throughout the body. Keep the wound below heart level and minimize movement to prevent an increased heart rate, which can accelerate venom spread.

Reassure the victim. Anxiety or panic can increase the heart rate, speeding up the absorption of venom. Calm the victim if possible and discourage unnecessary movement. Remind them that most scorpion stings do not cause permanent damage.

Apply a cold pack or ice to the sting area. The cold helps slow the spread of venom in the bloodstream, reduces swelling, and numbs the pain. Apply the cold pack or ice for 10-15 minutes at a time, with similar intervals between applications. This treatment is most effective within the first two hours after the injury.

• If the victim has circulatory issues, limit ice application to 5 minutes at a time to avoid tissue damage.

Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Use ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen to alleviate pain and discomfort. Always follow the instructions on the medication label. Avoid opioid painkillers (derived from opium) as they can suppress breathing. Ibuprofen and aspirin are preferable due to their anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce swelling. Seek medical care if the pain is severe.

Administer first aid if necessary. Unconsciousness or severe muscle spasms are rare but require immediate emergency assistance. Learn basic CPR steps and perform them promptly if you suspect cardiac arrest.

Follow up with a doctor. Even if you feel better after home treatments, it's highly recommended to visit a doctor or healthcare professional for a check-up. To reduce the risk of infection or complications, you may be advised to get a tetanus shot, take muscle relaxants, or use antibiotics. Do not take these medications without a doctor's prescription.

Only attempt to capture the scorpion if you can do so safely. Prioritize treating the victim over capturing the scorpion. However, identifying the scorpion species can help determine if medical treatment is necessary and, in the case of a venomous species, assist healthcare professionals in choosing the right treatment. If you have a glass jar significantly larger than the scorpion (a 1-liter jar is usually suitable), you can try capturing it for expert identification. However, if you don't see the scorpion or lack a proper container, do not attempt this step.

• Find a large glass jar, wide enough to easily trap the scorpion and tall enough to prevent it from stinging your hand when you flip the jar. If available, use tongs at least 25 cm long.
• Capture the scorpion using the jar or tongs. Invert the jar and place it over the scorpion. If using tongs, grip the scorpion firmly and place it inside the jar.
• Secure the jar lid. If the jar is upside down, slide a sturdy piece of paper or cardboard under the opening, hold it in place, and flip the jar upright. Seal the jar with a lid or use a heavy book to cover the opening.

Take photos of the scorpion if you cannot capture it. If you lack the proper tools to catch the scorpion, photograph it instead. Capture multiple images from different angles if possible. Having visual references can help you recall details you might forget and assist medical professionals in identifying the species if specialized care is needed.

Assume that scorpions with thick tails are potentially dangerous. Scorpions with thick, robust tails and stingers are generally more hazardous than those with slender tails. While capturing or photographing the scorpion is still useful for identification, seek medical attention even if no severe symptoms appear, especially if you are in Africa, India, or the U.S.

• If only the scorpion's pincers are visible, you can estimate the risk based on their size: large, strong pincers often indicate that the scorpion relies more on its claws for defense than its venom. This is not definitive but is useful information to share with medical professionals.

Identify dangerous scorpion species in the U.S. and northern Mexico. If you are in the southwestern U.S. or northern Mexico, search online for images of the Arizona bark scorpion and compare them to the scorpion that caused the injury. Note that highland scorpions often have stripes, while desert scorpions are typically solid tan or light brown. Stings from these species can be fatal and require urgent medical care.

• If you are in other parts of the U.S., the risk of severe injury from a scorpion sting is lower. Still, treat the wound as described above and be prepared to visit a doctor if allergic reactions or other severe symptoms occur.

Identify dangerous scorpion species in the Middle East and Africa. The deathstalker scorpion, also known as the Israeli desert scorpion, grows up to 11.5 cm, varies in color, and has pincers of different sizes. Due to the risk of heart or lung failure associated with its sting, any sting from a scorpion smaller than an adult's hand in this region requires immediate medical attention.

• As mentioned earlier, scorpions with thick tails are often extremely dangerous, and many such species are found in this area.
• Scorpions with slender tails and unidentified species are generally lower risk, but given the vast number of scorpion species in Africa and the lack of comprehensive research on all of them, seek medical care if any symptoms beyond mild pain and swelling occur.

Identify dangerous scorpion species in Central and South America. Most scorpions in this region are not dangerous to adults, but there are exceptions. One such dangerous species is the Brazilian yellow scorpion; like many other hazardous scorpions, they typically have thick, robust tails.

Identify dangerous scorpion species in other regions. Few remaining scorpion species can cause severe harm or fatalities to adults, but since not all scorpions are well-documented, it's best to seek medical help if the victim exhibits symptoms beyond mild pain and swelling at the sting site.

• Stings from small, red, or orange scorpions in India, Nepal, or Pakistan require immediate medical attention. These could be Indian red scorpions.
• There is minimal risk of death or severe injury to adults from scorpion venom in Europe, Australia, or New Zealand. However, identification is still advisable if severe symptoms occur and need to be reported to medical personnel.