The São Paulo State Health Department has issued an alert regarding the increase in scorpion incidents during the summer. With the arrival of heat and vacations, accidents with arachnids increase. As of Friday (5), 40,282 cases and two deaths involving scorpions had been recorded in 2025 in the state.
According to Gisèle Freitas, technical health director of the Zoonoses Division of the Epidemiological Surveillance Center (CVE), these arachnids become more active at high temperatures. The professional affirms that they are adapted to the urban environment, where they find water, food (mainly cockroaches) and shelter.
Scorpions are nocturnal and tend to hide in rubble, construction or garden debris, electrical conduits, unplastered walls, trash cans and toy boxes. Many accidents occur when someone tampers with these places, climbs on electrical networks or when the animal comes out of its hiding place in search of food.
Most bite cases are mild, Freitas said. In more severe cases, the most common symptoms are severe pain in the area, burning and inflammation, intense vomiting, sweating, restlessness, increased heart rate and breathing.
According to the professional, the elderly and children are the groups most vulnerable to serious cases. She explains that the child’s physiological system is not yet mature, so the poison acts differently. Older people suffer from more comorbidities and body weaknesses. Weight also influences: the smaller the body, the higher the concentration of the poison.
Service to these groups needs to be faster. “Accidents involving children up to 10 years old are extremely serious and can lead to death very quickly. It is important to seek immediate treatment,” explains Freitas.
The SUS (Unified Health System) provides free antivenoms used in the treatment of scorpion-related accidents. The State of São Paulo has 232 strategic antivenom points (PESA), distributed to reduce the time between injection and treatment, especially in the case of children. Visit the website to find the nearest gas station.
What to do after the bite
-
Adults: wash the area with soap and water and observe.
-
Seek care at a strategic point if vomiting or other signs of worsening occur.
-
Most cases are mild and do not require serum. It is only applied in moderate (three ampoules) or severe (six ampoules) conditions.
-
If you have not seen the animal, but symptoms have appeared and you are in an area with a history of scorpions: seek help and report your suspicions.
-
-
Children up to 10 years old: The accident is always serious and can progress quickly.
-
Take the patient immediately to a strategic point in the health service, even if there are no other symptoms.
-
The main sign is sudden and intense pain: the child may start crying desperately without being able to explain it.
-
Again, if there is pain, but you have not seen the animal, go to the emergency room and report your suspicions.
-
-
Age: They should also seek treatment quickly, due to greater frailty and comorbidities.
According to Freitas, photographing the animal is helpful in identifying the species. In São Paulo, yellow scorpions are common (Tityus serrulatus)brown (Tityus bahiensis) and the yellow of the northeast (tityus stigmarus). The Amazon black scorpion does not occur in the state. The professional specifies that you should only collect or capture the animal (with tweezers or by placing it under a container) if you feel safe.
How to prevent
There is no poison that effectively eliminates scorpions. Prevention involves preventing them from finding shelter and food in or near homes. Here are some recommendations:
-
Keep yards, gardens and outdoor areas clean.
-
Remove debris and construction debris.
-
Seal gaps: doors, drains, sink, tank, shower and wiring passages.
-
Shake clothes and shoes before use.
-
Frequently clean boxes and toys where the animal can hide.
About The Author
