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Published on: April 18, 2011
Multiorgan failure following mass wasp stings
Cheng-Jui Lin1, Chih-Jen Wu, Han-Hsiang Chen
1Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital and Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan.
Southern Medical Journal
|May 25, 2011
Summary
Massive wasp stings can lead to delayed, severe multiorgan failure, including acute kidney and liver dysfunction. Prompt medical intervention is crucial for managing these toxic reactions and supporting patient recovery.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Nephrology
- Hepatology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Wasp stings typically cause localized pain and swelling.
- Rarely, wasp stings can precipitate severe systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis and organ damage.
Observation:
- A patient presented with symptoms of multiple organ failure, including acute kidney injury, hepatic failure, and circulatory collapse, four days after experiencing massive wasp stings.
- The patient required intensive medical management, including fluid resuscitation, inotropic support, corticosteroids, antibiotics, and hemodialysis.
Findings:
- Liver function gradually recovered over one month.
- Renal function recovery was delayed, necessitating temporary hemodialysis.
- Kidney biopsy confirmed acute tubulointerstitial nephritis as the cause of renal dysfunction.
Implications:
- This case highlights that severe toxic systemic effects from massive wasp stings can manifest days after the initial envenomation.
- It underscores the potential for delayed-onset multiorgan system dysfunction following extensive wasp attacks.
- Aggressive supportive care and monitoring are essential for patients with severe envenomation syndromes.
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