title: Generalised involuntary limb twitching after ingestion of Mesobuthus martensii Karsch (Quanxie) powder.
abstract: Mesobuthus martensii Karsch, commonly known as the Chinese scorpion or Manchurian scorpion, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as Quanxie to treat chronic pain, tetanus, tremors, convulsion, and paralysis for more than a thousand years. We report a case of poisoning after ingestion of a teaspoon of Quanxie powder. The patient presented with chest pain, dizziness, diaphoresis, generalised involuntary limb twitching, and hypertonia around 15 minutes post-ingestion. The patient recovered uneventfully after supportive management. Intravenous diazepam appeared to be effective in alleviating limb twitching. Failure to accurately measure the dose and to boil before consumption may have contributed to his clinical toxicities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Accident and Emergency, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Accident and Emergency, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Hong Kong Poison Information Centre, United Christian Hospital, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Hospital Authority Toxicology Reference Laboratory, Princess Margaret Hospital, Laichikok, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Tony W L
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Mak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D012605:Scorpions; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D012604:Scorpion Venoms
keywords: Herbal medicine; Scorpions/classification; Tremor, limb