Identificação das espécies de escorpiões encontradas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro por agentes de saúde

Abstract

Scorpionism refers to poisoning caused by scorpion stings in humans and, among accidents involving venomous animals, it is the health issue with the fastest growth and expansion in Brazil, including in the state of Rio de Janeiro. In 2024, according to the Epidemiological Bulletin of the Ministry of Health, there was a 149.3% increase in reported scorpion accidents over the past 10 years. This growth is related to the synanthropic capacity of many scorpion species. Another problem associated with this condition lies in the lack of adequate nfrastructure in healthcare units, insufficient training and professional development, as well as the lack of taxonomic knowledge and the absence of standardized protocols for identifying medically important species. The present study aimed to investigate the knowledge and practices of health agents regarding the correct identification of scorpion species found in the state. The research was conducted at the Vital Brazil Institute and consisted of three stages: a scorpion identification workshop, a questionnaire to collect data about the workshop, and the development of a didactic tool aimed at training agents in scorpion identification.Over five days, forty-five health agents participated in the workshop. It was observed that the species Tityus serrulatus was the one they were most familiar with. In contrast, Tityus costatus and Tityus bahiensis were the species that agents had the greatest difficulty identifying. The online questionnaire consisted of fifteen questions, addressing the agents’ training and scorpionism in the state. The results revealed that most health agents do not have specialized training to work with venomous animals, especially scorpions, and are trained only through traditional teaching methods, such as courses, lectures, and books. Proper education and training of healthcare professionals are crucial to ensure the correct identification of these animals and, consequently, to improve the effectiveness of prevention and management actions against scorpionism.