Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Measurement of Smooth Muscle Function in the Isolated Tissue Bath-applications to Pharmacology Research
Published on: January 19, 2015
Echocardiographic Evaluation of the Response to Prazosin Treatment in Scorpion Sting
Khaled A Abdel Baseer1, Mohamed Gamil Aboelela2, Heba M Qubaisy3
1Department of Pediatrics, Qena Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Egypt.
Insights
Scorpion envenomation can cause severe heart problems in children. Early diagnosis using echocardiography and ECG monitoring is crucial for managing acute toxic myocarditis and preventing fatalities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Toxicology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Scorpion envenomation poses a significant public health threat to children, leading to potentially fatal neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular complications.
- Cardiovascular complications, particularly acute toxic myocarditis, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric scorpion sting cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cardiovascular complications of scorpion envenomation in children.
- To assess the recovery of cardiovascular function one month after envenomation.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving children presenting with scorpion stings to emergency and intensive care units.
- Systematic recording of demographic, clinical, and laboratory data.
- Bedside echocardiography and serial electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring for cases with suspected myocarditis, with follow-up at one week and one month.
Main Results:
- Of 81 scorpion sting cases, 64 experienced systemic complications requiring ICU admission.
- Twenty-eight cases exhibited myocarditis with echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular dysfunction.
- Significant improvement in cardiac function was observed within one week, with complete recovery in most survivors by one month, though three cases died from pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock.
Conclusions:
- Acute toxic myocarditis is a common and serious complication of scorpion envenomation in children, necessitating prompt and aggressive management.
- A high index of clinical suspicion, serial ECG monitoring, and echocardiography are essential for early diagnosis.
- Early intervention, potentially including prazosin therapy, may prevent long-term cardiac damage.
Background:
Scorpion envenomation is a major public health problem in children that can induce lethal neurological, respiratory and cardiovascular complications. We aimed to evaluate cardiovascular complications with a follow-up of envenomed children for 1 month for possibility of incomplete recovery.
Methods:
This was a prospective study conducted for children who presented with scorpion sting to Emergency and Intensive Care units. Demographic, clinical and laboratory findings of patients were recorded. Cases with suspected clinical and electrocardiographic manifestations of myocarditis were subjected to bedside echocardiography with follow-up at the end of the first week and the first month.
Results:
Scorpion sting cases presented to our hospital were 81 cases during 1-year study; of them, 17 cases were stable without systemic manifestations after 12 h observation and discharged. Sixty-four cases suffered systemic organic complications and needed ICU admission; their mean age was 11.52 ± 3.74 and 64% of them were males. Twenty-eight of admitted cases showed manifestations of myocarditis and by echocardiography, all of them had evidence of left ventricular dysfunction. On follow-up, there was significant improvement at the end of first week and complete improvement at the end of first month except three cases who died due to pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock.
Conclusion:
Acute toxic myocarditis is a common and an important cause of morbidity and mortality following scorpion envenomation that necessitates early and aggressive management. High index of suspicion, serial electrocardiogram monitoring and echocardiography are three integrative lines required to recognize this serious complication. Lay summaryAcute toxic myocarditis is a common cause of morbidity and mortality following scorpion envenomation that necessitates rapid medical treatment. We aimed to evaluate cardiovascular complications after scorpion sting with a follow-up of envenomed children for 1 month for possibility of incomplete recovery. Tachycardia was the most frequent observed cardiac sign followed by hypotension, while the least was bradycardia and hypertension. All cases with manifestations suggestive of myocarditis were evaluated by bedside two-dimensional echocardiography and showed evidence of left ventricular dysfunction, that begin to regress within 1 week of treatment unless progressive pulmonary edema and resistant cardiogenic shock occurred. On follow-up for survivors, complete improvement at the end of first month was noticed. Clinical suspicion, serial ECG monitoring and echocardiography are required for rapid and early diagnosis. Early use of prazosin therapy can prevent long-term residual damage as evidenced by echocardiographic evaluation.
