Iranian Journal of

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Background & Objectives: The scorpionism is one of the important public health problem in several parts of the world becauseeither incidence or severity of envenomations is high and managed with difficulty by health services. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and demographic information among humans stung by scorpion in Ramhormoz, Iran.
Methods: In this analytic-descriptive study relevant information were gathered from Imam Khomeini hospital in Ramhormoz, from April 2007 to April 2008.
Results: There were 3799 scorpion victims, 56% were from rural areas. Approximately 20 percent of the sting cases occurred in the month of July (the height temperature in this region). Near 50 percent of victims were between 11-30 years. Most of the stings were seen in exposed extremities (78.4%) mainly in the lower limbs (40.5%). Stings mainly occurred at night between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m (44.3%). The scorpions’ spices were, 53.9% yellow, 12.5% black and 34.6% unknown colors, respectively. The median time from sting to admission to the emergency room (patient delay) was 1.5 hour.
Conclusion: It is suggested that informing people with educational campaign about the importance of receiving prompt attention following a scorpion sting has potential value in reducing complications in the emergency room. We would advise that public awareness and physician readiness combined with the availability of effective antivenom significantly reduced lethality in this region.

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  Background & Objectives : Leishmaniasis is a disease of the skin caused by a variety of protozoa. Leishmaniasis can be seen in any geographic region. This study investigated the role of climate on the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the city of Sabzevar between 2003 and 2009.

  Methods : Daily meteorological data (minimum, maximum and mean temperature, sunshine hours, precipitation, and humidity) and city-level data on the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis between 2003 and 2009 were prepared and analyzed using Pearson correlation, time delay, and time series methods.

  Results: The maximum incidence of the disease was observed during the second half of the year, especially in the autumn, in the age group 10 to 20 years. The highest incidence was seen among women and for the wet (rural) type. In addition, the disease showed a weak positive correlation with relative humidity and rainfall, and a weak inverse correlation with sunshine and temperature. It is noteworthy that in the delay analysis, correlations increased with a confidence interval of 95%. In the time delay of three months, the correlation of leishmaniasis incidence and prevalence with relative humidity and rainfall was positive and strong (r=0.82 and P=0.006, r=0.88 and P=0.002, respectively) and the correlation of the disease with temperature and sunshine hours was inverse and strong (r=0.80 and P=0.01, r=0.77 and P=0.01, respectively).

  Conclusion : Considering the significant relationship between climatic factors and leishmaniasis in desert regions, we recommend appropriate measures should be taken to identify and control these factors.