You barely feel the sting.
But seconds later,
an intense pain runs through your body.
Blistering lesions appear.
You start to vomit and sweat profusely.
Next could be a stroke
or even a fatal heart attack.
The Indian red scorpion,
also referred to
as the eastern Indian scorpion,
could be the most lethal in the world.
They are native to parts of South Asia,
especially India,
Pakistan and Nepal.
These scorpions are nocturnal carnivores
and mostly hunt insects,
though they may occasionally go
for small rodents or lizards.
They're only 2 to 3.5 in (5 to 9 cm)
but their sting is extremely powerful.
Only about 1% of the world's scorpions
have a potentially deadly sting,
and the Indian red scorpion
is at the top of the list.
Its sting has up to a 40%
mortality rate if left untreated.
Red Indian scorpions often live
alongside human populations.
They often hide under bark,
driftwood and rocks,
so it's common for people to accidentally
startle or step on them.
Though they don't hunt humans,
they will sting when aggravated
or threatened.
This frequently happens
to children at play.
Be careful of scorpions
that may be hiding,
especially when running
around barefoot.
If living or camping
in scoripion-inhabited areas,
check your belongings.
They may be hiding in items like firewood,
linen or shoes.
Speaking of shoes,
wear thick-soled footwear
and long sleeves and pants
made of sturdy material.
Most stings occur on the lower arms
or legs,
and the right clothing could save you.
Scorpions strike with amazing speed.
When stinging,
their tail moves 129 cm/s (51 in/s).
So you may not even feel it
when you're struck.
But what you will feel
is the effects of the sting,
and they're horrible.
The most notable
is severe pain near the sting site.
You will experience swelling
and possibly blisters on your skin.
Next come waves of weakness,
nausea and confusion.
If left untreated,
more severe symptoms appear,
such as vomiting and extreme sweating.
Your blood pressure
and heart rate can also change
drastically,
both increasing and decreasing.
This can cause cardiac arrest or stroke.
Sometimes both.
The venom can also trigger
pulmonary edema,
which is liquid accumulating in the lungs.
This can be fatal.
If you're stung,
it's essential that you get
medical attention immediately.
Unfortunately,
most scorpion stings happen
in remote areas.
so travel time
to find treatment
increase the risk of a serious outcome.
Until you can get to a hospital,
use an ice pack on the sting site,
and try to avoid moving.
Both of these steps can slow the spread
of the venom.
When you arrive,
medical professionals will treat you
in a few different ways.
They may give you an antivenom,
though this can have
limited effectiveness.
More likely,
they'll administer a blood pressure
medication called prazosin,
which has been proven to lower the risk
of fatal outcomes
in Indian red scorpion stings
to about 4%.
We like those odds.
In the case of stings or bites,
it may be smart to photograph or at least
carefully observe the creature
that attacked you.
Some victims will even bring it with them
to the hospital,
though we don't advise this.
Picking up an agitated scorpion
may get you another sting.
Still,
helping doctors identify the source
of the sting can be a lifesaver.
While these arachnids are very dangerous,
they could play a major role
in medical advances.
The Indian red's venom contains
enterotoxin,
which has been shown to be effective
in stopping
rheumatoid arthritis in animals.
While researchers are still studying
its effectiveness in humans,
this is promising news
for those who suffer from the condition.
There's good reason
to fear scorpion stings,
as they can be deadly.
But scorpions aren't the only creepy
crawly out there.
Some, like ticks,
even burrow into your skin.
Want to know how to avoid them?
Find out more here.