title: Scorpion sting envenomation presenting with pulmonary edema in adults: a report of seven cases from Nepal.
abstract: Scorpion sting is a common problem in villages of Eastern Nepal. The life-threatening complications of myocarditis and pulmonary edema is known in red scorpion in India but not reported in Nepal. This condition requires urgent attention and ICU care from few hours to days. Delay in recognition and the hypoxemia increase the morbidity and mortality. Illiteracy, ignorance, poverty, traditional faith healers trying treatment in remote areas, lack of transport in difficult terrains and the non availability of ventilation facility in nearby hospital, add to delay in appropriate treatment. Seven young adult patients admitted in a span of two years with history of scorpion sting presenting with pulmonary edema required ICU care. They were successfully managed with the positive pressure ventilation with PEEP, cardiac support with inotropes and fluid balance. Magnitude of problem, clinical presentation and management done is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. mukesh_tripathi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Umesh Kumar
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Bhadani
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Sanjib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pandey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D065008:Scorpion Stings / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D012605:Scorpions