Neurological complications secondary to severe scorpion envenomation.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to study the incidence, clinical manifestations, and prognosis of neurological complications secondary to scorpion envenomation.


METHODS
A retrospective study over a 13-year period including all patients admitted to our ICU for scorpion envenomation.


RESULTS
During the period of study, 951 patients were admitted due to scorpion envenomation. Mean age was 14.7+/-17.4 years, ranging from 0.5 to 90 years. Neuromuscular signs were observed in 739 patients (78%), coma (Glasgow Coma Score 12) in 15.4% of cases, and convulsions in 6%. The other neurological signs observed were: agitation in 709 patients (74.6%), squint in 119 patients (12.5%), bilateral miosis in 43 patients (5%), and a bilateral mydriasis in 16 patients (1.7%). Brain CT was performed in 10 patients, these being abnormal in 90% of cases. In our study the presence of coma (p<0.001), convulsions (p<0.001), bilateral miosis (P<0.001), and the presence of bilateral mydriasis (P<0.001) correlated with poor outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurological manifestations were often observed in severe scorpion-envenomed patients and they correlated with poor outcome. Their mechanisms are complex. Prevention is highly warranted.
Bahloul
Mabrouk
M
Service de Réanimation Médicale, CHU Habib Bourguiba, Sfax, Tunisia. bahloulmab@yahoo.fr
Rekik
Noureddine
N
Chabchoub
Imen
I
Chaari
Anis
A
Ksibi
Hichem
H
Kallel
Hatem
H
Damak
Hassan
H
Chaari
Adel
A
Ben Hamida
Chokri
C
Chelly
Hedi
H
Bouaziz
Mounir
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*
D012604:Scorpion Venoms