Clinical Severity in Scorpion Envenomation: Home Remedies, Delay to Medical Care, and Antivenom Dosing Strategies in an Emergency Department

NCT07408947 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: Epidemiología del alacranismo
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 3,145
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Scorpion stings are a common medical emergency in Mexico, particularly in the state of Jalisco. While antivenom is the standard treatment for scorpion envenomation, there is variability in how it is used, including differences in dosing strategies. In addition, many patients use home remedies before seeking medical care, which may delay treatment and influence the severity of symptoms. This study is an observational, retrospective analysis of patients treated for scorpion envenomation in the emergency department of a public hospital in Jalisco, Mexico, between 2021 and 2023. Using information from medical records, the study examines the relationship between the use of home remedies, the time to receive medical care, clinical severity at presentation, and the antivenom dosing strategies used, including traditional and reduced-dose approaches. The goal of this study is to better understand factors associated with clinical severity and antivenom use in real-world emergency care. The results may help inform future clinical decision-making, promote rational use of antivenom, and improve timely access to appropriate medical treatment for patients with scorpion envenomation.

Conditions

Scorpion Envenomation

Keywords

antivenom; scorpion; home remedy; scorpionism; scorpion envenomation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Clinical resolution of symptoms within 3 hours

  Proportion of patients with scorpion envenomation who achieved complete clinical resolution of signs and symptoms within three hours after initial medical management in the emergency department.

  From emergency department admission to 3 hours after initial treatment.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Need for additional antivenom doses

  From initial antivenom administration until emergency department discharge (up to 24 hours)

• Total number of antivenom vials administered

  From initial antivenom administration until emergency department discharge (up to 24 hours)

• Use of supportive medications

  From initial antivenom administration until emergency department discharge (up to 24 hours)

Other Outcomes (3)

• Clinical severity at presentation

  At emergency department triage (baseline)

• Use of home remedies prior to medical care

  At emergency department triage (baseline)

• Delay to medical care

  From time of scorpion sting to recorded emergency department triage time (baseline)

Study Arms (2)

Reduced dose

This group includes patients diagnosed with scorpion envenomation who were managed using a reduced-dose antivenom strategy during routine emergency care. In this approach, antivenom (faboterápico) was administered primarily to patients with systemic manifestations of envenomation. The initial dose generally consisted of a single intravenous vial, with additional vials administered only if clinical symptoms persisted or progressed after reassessment. Patients who did not receive antivenom because they presented without systemic symptoms were also included in this group. This management strategy differs from the Mexican national Clinical Practice Guidelines, which recommend antivenom administration to all patients with scorpion envenomation, regardless of the presence or absence of systemic symptoms. All treatment decisions were made by the treating physicians as part of standard clinical care, without protocol-mandated interventions.

Traditional dose

This group includes patients diagnosed with scorpion envenomation who were managed according to the traditional antivenom dosing strategy recommended by the Mexican national Clinical Practice Guidelines. These guidelines advise administering antivenom (faboterápico) to all patients with scorpion envenomation, independent of whether systemic symptoms are present, with dosing adjusted based on patient age and clinical severity. Under this strategy, patients typically received one or more intravenous vials of antivenom as an initial dose, with additional doses administered at predefined intervals if symptoms persisted, in accordance with guideline-based algorithms. All treatments were provided as part of routine emergency care, and no interventions were assigned for research purposes. This group reflects standard-of-care antivenom use in Mexico during the study period.

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

patients of all ages who presented with scorpion envenomation to the emergency department of a public hospital in Jalisco, Mexico, between 2021 and 2024. Patients were evaluated and treated as part of routine clinical care, following local clinical practice and national guidelines.

You may qualify if:

• Patients of any age with a clinical diagnosis of scorpion envenomation.
• Patients evaluated and treated in the emergency department of the participating hospital.
• Availability of medical records with sufficient clinical information to assess envenomation severity, time to medical care, and antivenom administration.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with incomplete or missing medical records that do not allow determination of clinical severity or antivenom use.
• Patients transferred from another healthcare facility after having already received definitive treatment for scorpion envenomation.
• Patients with documented co-envenomation or alternative diagnoses that could confound clinical severity assessment.
• Patients who declined medical evaluation or left the emergency department before completion of initial assessment and management.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Guadalajara: lead

Study Sites (1)

Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud

Guadalajara, Jalisco, 44340, Mexico

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Scorpion Stings

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Bites and Stings; Poisoning; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Wounds and Injuries

Study Officials

• Christian J Baños, PhD

  University of Guadalajara

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 15, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: August 7, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2025
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

ME (1)