Electrocardiologic and Echocardiographic Findings in Patients With Scorpion Sting

What is it about?

Scorpion sting is a major public health problem in many parts of the world. High prevalence, severity of symptoms and difficulty of treatment are problems of sting which is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas including the North-Saharan African, Sahelian Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, southern Mexico, Latin America and the Andean region The most acceptable hypotheses for pathogenesis of cardiac damage secondary to scorpion are increased catecholamines due to the direct stimulation of the adrenal glands by scorpion venom or a direct sympathomimetic cardiac effect of the venom. ECG changes resulting from scorpion stings maybe recorded on admission or several hours later. Earliest recorded findings are sinus tachycardia. However,some patients may also experience bradycardia. Changes in echocardiography could include reduced left ventricular function, enlarged left ventricle and reduced end diastolic volume (EDV), reduced end systolic volume (ESV) and reduced ejection fraction (EF). Standard 12 lead electrocardiography and trans-thoracic echocardiography (M-Mode and B-Mode) were performed for our patients in a cross-sectional study. Electrocardiography was performed at admission time and every 6-hour. Echocardiography within 24 hours after admission were performed. Odontobuthus doriae (Buthidae) is dominant species in Hormozgan province of Iran(location of study).

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Why is it important?

No significant association between frequency of abnormal ECGs and the severity of clinical findings was found in this study (P = 0.0587).

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