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Asian Journal of Epidemiology

Year: 2014 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 28-35
DOI: 10.3923/aje.2014.28.35
A Hospital-based Study on Scorpionism in Khorram-shahr County, Southwestern Iran
Hamid Kassiri, Ali Kasiri, Elnaz Kasiri, Sakineh Safarpor and Masoud Lotfi

Abstract: Scorpions are most prevalent in warm environments, particularly in regions considered to be semi-arid. These animals are common in urban and rural areas of Iran. Scorpion sting is one of the major health hazards in the province of Khuzistan. This descriptive cross-sectional research was done to survey the epidemiological features of scorpion stings in Khorram-shahr County during 2007-2009. Epidemiological data were recorded in a questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS software. A total of 903 cases of scorpion envenomation were reported during three years interval. The mean incidence of scorpion stings was 2.4/1000/3 years. Almost 59.5% of cases were men. Although scorpion sting occurred in all months of the year but most of stings were appeared in spring and summer and the least in winter. Most of the stings (34.1%) were seen in persons with 15-24 years old. Among these patients, 69% were from urban areas and 31% from villages. The highest cases of stings (45.3%) occurred in the hands and the least (12.8%) in the head and trunk of the victims. Scorpionism in Khorram-shahr County is a public health problem, which needs to be monitored very carefully.

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How to cite this article
Hamid Kassiri, Ali Kasiri, Elnaz Kasiri, Sakineh Safarpor and Masoud Lotfi, 2014. A Hospital-based Study on Scorpionism in Khorram-shahr County, Southwestern Iran. Asian Journal of Epidemiology, 7: 28-35.

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