Black scorpion envenomation: two cases and review of the literature

Scorpion envenomation is quite common in India, southeast Asia, the U.S. southwest, and Israel (in the Negev and around Jerusalem). Yellow scorpion is considered the most dangerous scorpion that causes cardiac toxicity. Two patients are described, who lived in a nonendemic area of yellow scorpions and were envenomated by the black scorpion. Both suffered temporary cardiac involvement (manifested by electrocardiographic changes) which reverted to a normal pattern within 24 h. These are the first two cases that have been reported (from black scorpion envenomation) and indicate that the toxin of the black scorpion is also cardiotoxic, but much less than the "yellow scorpion" toxin.