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Captive Maintenance and Venom Extraction of Tityus serrulatus (Brazilian Yellow Scorpion) for Antivenom Production
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Published on: October 6, 2023

Acute Transverse Myelitis and Pulmonary Thromboembolism Following Scorpion Envenomation: A Rare Case Report

Puneet Rijhwani1, Somil Jain2, Deepak Gupta3

  • 1Professor and Head, Department of General Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
|August 3, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A rare case details a 72-year-old man experiencing transverse myelitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and pulmonary thromboembolism after a scorpion sting. This highlights scorpion venom

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Toxicology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Scorpion envenomation is prevalent in India, typically causing local effects.
  • Neurovascular complications from scorpion stings are exceptionally rare.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a unique case of severe neurovascular complications following a scorpion sting.
  • To emphasize the systemic toxicity and diverse clinical manifestations of scorpion venom.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 72-year-old male with paraparesis post-scorpion sting.
  • Diagnostic workup included MRI spine, CT pulmonary angiography, CSF analysis, and nerve conduction studies.
  • Treatment involved corticosteroids and anticoagulants.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with acute transverse myelitis, spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed hemorrhagic tap with elevated protein and LDH.
  • Negative results for Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies.
  • Nerve conduction studies indicated a bilateral sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy.

Conclusions:

  • Scorpion venom can induce severe, multi-systemic neurovascular complications.
  • Early recognition and a multidisciplinary approach are crucial for managing these rare presentations.
  • This case expands the known spectrum of scorpion envenomation effects.

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