•  
  •  

Scorpion

Scorpions are insectlike creatures (arthropods) that release venom when they sting with the end of their narrow tail. Most scorpion stings are not serious, but the venom of a few species can cause severe, sometimes life-threatening, symptoms.

Scorpions are about 3 in. (7.6 cm) in length, have 4 pairs of legs, a pair of pincers like what a crab has, and a long abdomen (generally called the tail). The bulb-shaped structure at the end of the tail contains the venom and stinger.

One species of scorpion in Arizona and southeastern California of the United States, and other species found in North Africa, the Middle East, South America, India, and Mexico have venom strong enough to be dangerous to adults. A bite from one of these scorpions can cause pain and swelling where a person was stung, numbness, frothing at the mouth, trouble breathing, muscle spasms, and convulsions.

Last Revised: October 14, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

To learn more visit Healthwise.org

© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.