Scorpions. Photo: EPA - The Voice of Russia

Scorpions are distributed throughout Australia, tending to be larger in the warmer northern areas. On a world scale, Australian scorpions are relatively innocuous, with very few deaths reliably documented as related to scorpion stings. Local pain and swelling are the major clinical problems following Australian scorpion stings. First aid consists of the application of iced water and analgesia if required. The scorpions of central and south America and Africa are much more dangerous, with thousands of fatalities and serious illnesses occurring every year in these areas.