Feature
BUGS , BEES and BITES
a
rizona is a special place in many ways, but one venom is a neurotoxin that poisons the nervous system and can cause excruciating pain, high or low reason it stands out to medical toxicologists blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and abnormal body like Aaron Skolnik, M.D., is because of all the and facial movement and sensation, Skolnik says. poisonous critters that live here. Unfortunately, the dangers are worse for children “We have scorpions, killer bees, rattlesnakes and than adults. Gila monsters, and all these creatures can be found “In general, the younger you are, the more sick in your own backyard or within Maricopa County,” you get,” he says. says Skolnik, a physician at the Department of Scorpions like to hide in wood piles, under rocks Medical Toxicology at Banner Good Samaritan and logs, and in dark places around Medical Center in Phoenix. “But you the house such as closets, garages and can take sensible measures to protect even inside footwear. “Everyone who yourself and your kids.” grew up in Arizona knows to shake That means educating yourself about their shoes out before putting them these potentially hazardous creatures on,” Skolnik says. and how to respond when you do come It’s very unusual to be allergic to into contact with them. Here’s the a scorpion sting, but if you are stung, lowdown on the usual suspects: symptoms will appear quickly. Don’t BEES. Although Africanized (or expect to see a sting site or swelling. ‘killer’) bees don’t have more potent Victims often don’t know they’ve been venom than a typical honeybee and they stung, but feel pain and a burning usually act the same as honeybees, their sensation. The pain can travel, too, response to real or perceived threats is Skolnik says. A classic sign of a scorpion much more aggressive. That’s important sting, though, is ‘bouncing eyeballs’ — to understand, since most bees in a temporary medical condition called Arizona and along the southern United Dr. Aaron Skolnik was opsoclonus in which a victim’s eyeballs States border are Africanized. involved in the process of appear to be bouncing in their sockets. “If you’re swarmed and have clinical trials for a new antiAlso keep in mind that kids don’t nowhere to go, protect your face and venom that was approved always act the way adults do when airway and, if possible, have someone they’re in pain. A child who’s been call for help,” Skolnik says. Also, be aware by the FDA to treat 95 percent of the venomous bitten by a scorpion may suddenly the bees will wait for you to surface if snakebites in Arizona. start crying or behaving unusually. you go under water. While a cold compress and a dose of Anyone who’s allergic to bee stings over-the-counter pain medicine is often enough for should always carry a rescue kit which will buy time until medical help can be reached. If you’re not allergic most adults, any child who’s been stung by a scorpion — or a child whom you think may have been stung and do get stung once or only a few times, a dose of — should get professional medical counsel. Contact over-the-counter pain medication should suffice. But the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center right if you feel short of breath or faint, go to the ER. away at 800-222-1222. A victim of any age having SCORPIONS. Although Arizona has plenty of trouble breathing or swallowing should call 911 and species of scorpions, it’s the bark scorpion that get to an emergency room immediately. poses the most risk. While rarely fatal, this creature’s
‹10›
TOTALKID
spring/summer 2013