Background Scorpion envenomation is a common medical emergency in many countries, including Turkey. Severe systemic symptoms occur more easily in children and mortality rates are higher. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical effects and predictive factors affecting the clinical severity of scorpion envenomations in Western Turkey. Methods Two hundred one children (138 mild cases, 34 moderate, and 29 severe) with scorpion envenomation aged between 1 month and −17 years were included in the study. The patients’ demographic and laboratory characteristics were compared among clinical severity subgroups. Results The patients’ median age was 7 (4–11) years. The median age of the severe group was significantly lower than that of the mild and moderate groups (p < 0.001). Seventeen patients (8.5%) developed myocarditis, while no pulmonary edema was observed in any case. Leukocyte, neutrophil and platelet (PLT) counts, and plateletcrit (PCT) and glucose levels increased significantly with the severity of envenomation (p < 0.001). PLT counts and PCT levels exhibited positive correlation with leukocyte and neutrophil counts (p < 0.001, r = 0.781, r = 0.638, r = 0.772, and r = 0.629, respectively). Supraventricular tachycardia developed in 1 (5.9%) patient, and dilated cardiomyopathy in another (5.9%). No mortality occurred in any case. Conclusion Increased PLT counts and PCT levels may be helpful in evaluating clinical severity in patients with scorpion sting envenomation. The possibility of myocarditis development in children should be remembered and cardiac enzymes should be checked, even if patients are asymptomatic and cardiac enzymes are normal on admission.

中文翻译：

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影响土耳其西部蝎子毒液临床严重程度的临床效果和预测因素

背景 在包括土耳其在内的许多国家，蝎子毒液中毒是一种常见的医疗紧急情况。儿童更容易出现严重的全身症状，死亡率也更高。本研究的目的是描述影响土耳其西部蝎子毒液临床严重程度的临床效果和预测因素。方法 201名1个月至-17岁的蝎毒儿童（138例轻度、34例中度和29例重度）被纳入研究。在临床严重程度亚组之间比较患者的人口统计学和实验室特征。结果患者的中位年龄为7（4-11）岁。重度组的中位年龄显着低于轻度和中度组（p < 0.001）。17 名患者 (8.5%) 出现心肌炎，而在任何情况下都没有观察到肺水肿。白细胞、中性粒细胞和血小板 (PLT) 计数以及血小板比容 (PCT) 和葡萄糖水平随着毒液中毒的严重程度显着增加 (p < 0.001)。PLT 计数和 PCT 水平与白细胞和中性粒细胞计数呈正相关（分别为 p < 0.001、r = 0.781、r = 0.638、r = 0.772 和 r = 0.629）。1 名（5.9%）患者出现室上性心动过速，另一名（5.9%）出现扩张型心肌病。在任何情况下都没有发生死亡。结论 增加的 PLT 计数和 PCT 水平可能有助于评估蝎蜇毒患者的临床严重程度。应记住儿童发生心肌炎的可能性，并应检查心肌酶，