Scorpions are not a pleasant sight to most people and what’s more unpleasant is a scorpion sting. There are about 1500 species and only 30 of those are poisonous. Thus the treatment for Scorpion bites in Nigeria depends on the type of scorpion sting. For most, a simple first aid process will do but for others transportation to nearby hospital may be required.
Treatment for scorpion bites in Nigeria: the safest way possible
If a scorpion stings you or your child, follow the suggestions below. Healthy adults may not need further treatment, and these tips can help keep children safe until they see a doctor:
- Use mild soap and water to clean the wound
- place a cool compress i.e ice or something cold on the affected area to help reduce pain.
- Elevate injured part to the level of your heart
- If difficulty in swallowing occurs then avoid foods or liquids
- Use over the counter pain medications e.g Ibuprofen or the popular paracetamol.
How to keep scorpions out
Treatment for scorpion bite in Nigeria won’t be necessary if you keep them out in the first place.
This can be done by
- Clearing debris. Scorpions stay in dark and tight places and your debris is a good hiding place. Try clearing them.
- Close crevices. Ensure you close up the crevices in your household as scorpions being nocturnal i.e active at night, are known to hide in crevices and come out at night.
- Close leakages. Scorpions can survive months without food if water is available. So close up leaking pipes that might sustain them.
- Natural remedies. Kola Nuts and scent leaf (efirin in Yoruba, nchanwu in Igbo and daidoya in Hausa) are natural home remedies you can use for treatment of scorpion bites in Nigeria.
Is a scorpion bite serious?
Scorpion bites usually have mild effects. From a bite you would feel the following sensations
- tingling pain, or numbness at the site of the sting
- limited or no swelling
Symptoms typically last for about 24 hours and are usually not fatal.
Simple first aid procedures should address them.
Children and older adults are however more susceptible to the adverse effects of scorpion bites.
If situations worsen contact an emergency service for urgent help.
When should I get to the hospital for a scorpion bite?
Burning sensations aren’t likely to go away for 48 hours even after treatment for a scorpion bite has been applied! Still, scorpion bites are no cause for alarm and in Nigeria deaths arising from Scorpion stings are rare.
However when adverse effects occur, it would be with Children and the elderly, who are more susceptible to the adverse effects from a scorpion bite.
The treatment of scorpion bites for children and elderly should be considered when the following signs are noticed
- muscle jerking or spasms
- difficulty swallowing
- drooling
- leg weakness
- unconsciousness
- difficulty breathing
- swelling or hives over the body
Treatment for scorpion bites in Nigeria is effective with ERA
We offer first aid training to help you deal with treatment of scorpion bites or other first aid emergencies like how to treat someone who has slumped with CPR.
You can take these trainings online or at a physical location.
If a mild treatment for scorpion bites does not prove effective and symptoms worsen, you can request our ambulance service for transportation to the hospital.
Our efficient ambulance services can attend to your emergency in as little as 10 minutes and stabilize the situation while you get transported to a hospital for further medical attention.
A scorpion bite in Nigeria like so many other accidents doesn’t have to be fatal if urgent attention is provided.
You can get our number now and ensure this attention is there when you need it.
