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Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
An infant with inconsolable crying
1Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena Campus Hospital, Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Henderson, NV, 89052, USA.
Insights
Infant inconsolable crying can stem from various causes. Scorpion envenomation, though rare, should be considered when other diagnostics are negative, as antivenom can resolve symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Toxicology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Infant inconsolable crying is a common clinical challenge, with causes ranging from benign infantile colic to serious underlying pathologies.
- A systematic diagnostic approach involving history, physical examination, and investigations is crucial for identifying the etiology of persistent crying.
Observation:
- A case is presented of an infant with inconsolable crying and tachycardia, who showed no signs of somatic or cranial nerve dysfunction.
- Extensive workup, including laboratory and radiologic evaluations, failed to identify a cause for the infant's symptoms.
Findings:
- Scorpion envenomation was eventually suspected after consultation.
- Administration of antivenom led to the infant's complete recovery and resolution of crying.
Implications:
- This case highlights that bites and stings, specifically scorpion envenomation, can manifest as inconsolable crying in infants.
- Clinicians should consider environmental exposures and toxicological causes in the differential diagnosis of unexplained infant crying, especially when accompanied by tachycardia.
Abstract:
Inconsolable crying in infants can be caused by as simple as infantile colic to wide variety of pathologies. A thorough history, physical examination followed by laboratory and radiologic evaluation can identify the cause of inconsolable crying. We present a case of infant who presented with inconsolable crying and after extensive workup no cause could ne identified. Eventually after consultation scorpion envenomation was considered. Antivenom was administered and the patient returned to normal. Patient did not exhibit any signs of somatic or cranial nerve dysfunction with inconsolable crying and tachycardia as the only manifestation of envenomation. In summary "Bites and stings can cause inconsolable crying".
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