ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the factors associated with the severity of scorpionism, according to sociodemographic, clinical and epidemiological aspects. Method: a cross-sectional study was carried out, in 2017, with data extracted directly from the Epidemiological Investigation Records of the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, for the period from 2007 to 2015. These records were provided by the reference hospital in attendance to the cases of scorpionism, located in the municipality of Jequié (Brazil). Logistic regression was used to verify the factors associated with the severity of scorpionism. Results: in the period investigated, 3,565 cases of scorpionism were identified, of which 15.9% were classified as of greater severity. The adjusted analysis showed that the severity of the scorpionism is associated with the ages ranging from 0 to 9 years (OR=6.87; CI 5.23-9.03), from 10 to 19 years old (OR=1.39; CI 1.03-1.87) and 60 or more (OR=4.04, CI 3.12-5.23), and the time elapsed between the moment of the bite and the hospital care of more than 3 hours (OR = 1.38; CI 1.02-1.85). Conclusion: it was found that the age range and the time elapsed between the moment of the bite and the hospital care are associated with the severity of the scorpionism, which signals the emergency characteristics of these accidents, especially when children and elderly people are affected.