A four-year-old girl was airlifted to Fortaleza after being seriously affected by a yellow scorpion sting in Boa Viagem, Ceará. The incident occurred on Saturday, October 31, and the child lives in the municipality with her family, approximately 220 kilometers from the state capital.
According to the Ceará Public Security Secretariat, the girl was initially taken to a hospital in Boa Viagem. Her condition worsened after the first medical care, and the case was classified as a serious scorpion envenomation.
Because she needed scorpion antivenom and urgent specialized treatment, medical staff requested an aeromedical transfer. The journey from Boa Viagem to Fortaleza took about 55 minutes, with continuous medical assistance provided by Ceará’s Samu emergency service team during the flight.
After arriving in Fortaleza, the girl was taken to the Instituto Doutor José Frota Hospital, which specializes in treating scorpion stings and accidents involving venomous animals.
The yellow scorpion is the most common type in Ceará and can enter homes through sewer systems, door thresholds, windows and electrical wiring. Between January and July 2026, the hospital’s Center for Toxicological Information and Assistance recorded 2,593 in-person and remote consultations related to scorpion accidents. July had the highest total during that period, with 445 consultations.
Scorpion stings can cause mild, moderate or severe symptoms. Most cases are mild and mainly involve localized pain, sometimes accompanied by tingling. Children under seven, older adults and people with other health conditions require particular attention because they may develop more serious symptoms.
The health guidance cited in the report includes keeping indoor areas clean, avoiding the accumulation of rubbish and debris, sealing drains and gaps, checking shoes and bedding before use, and controlling cockroaches, which can attract scorpions.
Sources: G1.