how many Americans die from scorpion stings each year?

Answer 1

Less than those who die in Iraq

Answer 2

Actually, there have been no verified deaths from scorpion stings in the US since 1968 (which is when they first started really verifying them).

Before that time, hundreds of deaths a year were blamed on species such as Centruoides vitallus and Centruroides exilicauda (bark scorpions). Many deaths in Mexico are still blamed on these species.

However, the deaths attributed to these stings are more likely due to doctors who are too willing to accept anecdotal evidence, or circumstancial evidence as a definitive cause of death. Similar factors lead to extreme overdiagnosis of spider bites, and bat-borne rabies transmissions, despite the lack of evidence. It's a simple, easy diagnosis, so it gets written on the chart, regardless of whether or not it's actually true.

Another factor that may have led to many more fatalities in scorpion sting cases in the past was the treatment. The prescribed way to counter the effect of the sting was 'heroic' doses of opiates, such as morphine or heroin. Especially in children, the treatment could well have been more lethal than the sting itself.

Other regions of the world, where there are more toxic species of scorpion, less available medical care, and often medical care that is less helpful than no treatment still have many lethal scorpion sting cases every year, but the danger from scorpions is still probably much lower than it is for say, dogs, who kill hundreds of people every year.

Answer 3

None. The scorpions in the US are not as deadly as some of the other species such as the deathstalker of the middle east and the fat-tailed scorpion of north Africa.

From the encyclopedia: "In the United States, scorpions are most common in southern Arizona and in a swath of land extending through central Texas and central Oklahoma. The common striped scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, reaches from northwest Mexico to southern Colorado, Kansas, southern Missouri, and Mississippi. Species of the genus Vaejovis are found from Florida north to Maryland, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, and as far west as Oregon and California. Paruroctonus boreus is found through the Northwest U.S. and into Canada. Scorpions can be found in 31 different states in the U.S., including Hawaii (Isometrus maculatus).

Third link: "For every person killed by a poisonous snake, 10 are killed by a poisonous scorpion. In Mexico, 1000 deaths from scorpion stings occur per year. In the United States, only 4 deaths in 11 years have occurred as a result of scorpion stings."

Although a bit of a contradiction the last link states: "Worldwide, there are about 100,000 cases of scorpion envenomation resulting in approximately 800 deaths per year."

Answer 4

A scorpion sting will make an adult sick but wont kill them. It could kill a baby though. The ones that kill are the white scorpions that live on the beaches in Mexico.

Answer 5

Not nearly enough. Excess people are wasting my Oxygen.

Answer 6

Not enough of them.......?