A rare complication of scorpion venom: atrial fibrillation.
Although the clinical findings of scorpion stings are often mild, they may lead to multiorgan failure and even cardiogenic shock. The toxin has both local and systemic effects. Local effects include edema, bruising(ecchymosis), and burning pain,whereas systemic effects include nausea,vomiting, hypotension or hypertension, cardiovascular toxicity, renal failure,and hemorrhage at different areas. The toxins have been implicated in a number of cardiac arrhythmias, including torsade de pointes, long QT syndrome, and atrial fibrillation. Here, we present a 90-year-old woman with no history of drug use or complaints due to dysrhythmias who developed atrial fibrillation after being stung by a scorpion.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey.
Ali
A
Duman
Department of Emergency Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey. Electronic address: drturkdogan@gmail.com.
Kenan Ahmet
KA
Turkdogan
Department of Emergency Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey.
Ayhan
A
Akoz
Department of Emergency Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey.
Mucahit
M
Avcil
Department of Emergency Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey.
Bekir
B
Dagli
Department of Emergency Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey.
Selcuk Eren
SE
Canakci
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D065008:Scorpion Stings / Q000150:complications*