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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07408947

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Scorpion Envenomation Bites and Stings Chemically-Induced Disorders Poisoning Scorpion Stings Wounds and Injuries

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud

Guadalajara, Jalisco, 44340, Mexico

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 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.

Exclusion criteria

  • 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.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Clinical resolution of symptoms within 3 hours

    Time frame: From emergency department admission to 3 hours after initial treatment.

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Need for additional antivenom doses

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

    Proportion of patients who required one or more additional doses of antivenom after the initial administration due to persistence or progression of clinical symptoms.

  2. Total number of antivenom vials administered

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

    Total number of antivenom (faboterápico) vials administered per patient during emergency department management.

  3. Use of supportive medications

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

    Use of additional supportive medications, including benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, opioids, antiemetics, or other agents, administered during emergency department management.

Other outcomes

  1. Clinical severity at presentation

    Time frame: At emergency department triage (baseline)

    Clinical severity of scorpion envenomation at the time of emergency department presentation, classified according to national clinical criteria (mild, moderate, or severe), based on documented signs and symptoms

  2. Use of home remedies prior to medical care

    Time frame: At emergency department triage (baseline)

    Proportion of patients who reported the use of home remedies (traditional treatments) prior to seeking medical care for scorpion envenomation, as documented in the medical record.

  3. Delay to medical care

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

    Time elapsed between scorpion sting and arrival at the emergency department.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Guadalajara

Other

Registry information

Official study title

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

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 13, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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