Scorpionism, current situation in the region, contributions from Science and Technology to Public Health

Abstract

Scorpions are arachnids whose stings can cause serious health problems, especially those belonging to the Buthidae family, like the Tityus trivittatus, the most dangerous of Argentina. In the Buenos Aires province, the number of these animals has increased in urban areas posing a greater risk for the population. However, there is no unified protocol for identifying, registering, and monitoring scorpions of health interest, nor are there maps showing their geographical distribution in each municipality.

The findings of the work agreement between the municipality of Quilmes and CEPAVE are presented, in order to obtain a mapping of scorpions of health interest and to focus on health promotion training and prevention of stings. This project enabled the understanding of the diversity, abundance, and distribution of scorpion species in Quilmes, as well as the characteristics of the environments where they were found, serving as the starting point to replicate it throughout the province.