A 3-year-old Brazilian girl died a horrible death after a scorpion crawled into her bed and under her clothes while she was sleeping. Maria Fernanda Brito da Silva was at her home in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil, on September 25, when she was stung by the scorpion. The tragic incident has caused Maria’s family immeasurable pain.
Her mother, Vanessa Ramirez da Silva, saw the large arachnid on her daughter’s back. Although she tried to save her little girl from the scorpion’s deadly venom, it was too late. Maria died a few days later.
More from CafeMom: Mom Finds Out Daughter Had A Brown Recluse Bite After Nurses Said It Was 'Just A Pinch'
Ramirez da Silva said she will never be able to shake the awful memory.
The New York Post reported that according to Newsflash, the mother, 27, told local media she will never forget the day the scorpion stung Maria. She said it is an image that will “stay in my head forever,” per a translation from Primeira Pagina.
“I hit her and she, even though she was in pain, raised her little finger and showed that the scorpion ended up on my shirt. I hit my hand, threw it on the ground, and killed it.”
Maria reportedly became ill very quickly.
Ramirez da Silva said she went to a neighbor for help when Maria began vomiting. The neighbor quickly transported the mother and daughter to a nearby hospital. Maria reportedly fought for her life at Hospital Regional de Mato Grosso do Sul in Campo Grande in the intensive care unit. Medics gave her antivenom antibody therapy, but it was not successful. She died of cardiac arrest on October 1.
The family is grieving.
Maria’s wake and funeral were held on October 2, just one day after she died, reported the New York Post. Her grandmother, Cleide Cristina Ramirez, said the pain is unimaginable.
“It’s infinite pain,” she said. “My daughter is a fighter, a single mother, she gives her life for her children.”
Primeira Pagina reported that both Ramirez da Silva’s brother and her 5-year-old son had also been stung by scorpions in the past.
Scorpion stings aren’t always fatal.
According to the National Center for Biological Information, there are approximately 1,750 scorpion species worldwide. Among them, only 25 are considered to be lethal to humans. The sting is often painful, but the scorpion does not produce venom that will kill a human.
Scorpions found outside of the US are markedly more dangerous, “Species found in Asia, Africa, and South America may need medical attention due to the potentially toxic effects of their venom. Rather than just causing a local skin reaction, these species are capable of producing systemic symptoms, including hemolysis, hemorrhage, and neuromuscular dysfunction. Scorpions may sting many times, but their venom becomes depleted with each sting,” NCBI reports.
More from CafeMom: 8 Bug Bite Itch Cures You Have Around the House
In the US, there is only one type of scorpion to be worried about.
The University of California Integrated Pest Management Program explains that in North America, the Arizona bark scorpion is considered dangerous to people. Pest World explains that Arizona bark scorpions are native to Arizona but can also be found in Utah, New Mexico, and Nevada. It is essential to leave scorpions alone and to keep homes clear of areas attractive to pests.
“To avoid run-ins with scorpions, eliminate harborage sites around your home, including woodpiles, trash and debris. Homeowners should also consider removing stones and landscape timbers from the property, and store firewood at least twenty feet from the home and at least five inches up off the ground,” Pest World suggests.
