Citation

Sagheb MM, Sharifian M, Moini M, Sharifian AH. Trop. Doct. 2012; 42(2): 90-91.

Affiliation

*Nephrology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1258/td.2011.110285

PMID

22316623

Abstract

In this study we describe the clinical features of scorpion bites in southern Iran. The records of scorpion bite victims from January 2000 to January 2009 were obtained from the record library of the Shiraz Nemazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. A total of 232 scorpion bite patients were included. Only 14 patients (6%) developed systemic complications. Acute renal failure (ARF) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were the most prevalent systemic complications. The renal toxicity of scorpion envenomation is mostly due to Hemiscorpius lepturus stings and this complication is more common in younger children. This may be due to a higher ratio of venom to body mass compared to adults. H. lepturus venom is naturally cytotoxic and may bind directly to kidney tissue causing tubular injury and inducing DIC and haemolysis.

Language: en