SCORPION ENVENOMATION IN MERIDA, VENEZUELA

This study involves a review of the records of 64 children referred to the University of los Andes Hospital with the diagnosis of scorpion e nvenomation. The patients were divided into group 1 (local manifestati ons, 42.4%) and group 2 (systemic manifestations, 7.8%). Seven of thes e patients had severe cardiorespiratory complications, came from disti nct geographical zones and received antivenin. Our results indicate th at poisonous and extremely dangerous scorpions predominate in certain geographical zones within the state of Merida, Venezuela. (C) 1997 Els evier Science Ltd.