title: Acute interstitial nephritis, toxic hepatitis and toxic myocarditis following multiple Asian giant hornet stings in Shaanxi Province, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  During July to October 2013, the Asian giant hornet has killed 42 and injured 1,675 people in the southern part of Shaanxi Province, China. This study investigated this unusual and frequent public health event.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the 3 months, 103 patients with severe Asian hornet stings were hospitalized in our hospital. Clinical data were collected using a standardized data collection form which included sex, age, length of hospital stay and medical recorder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After physical examination and laboratory investigation, 25.2, 46.6 and 44.7 % of the patients were found with varying degrees of acute interstitial nephritis, acute toxic hepatitis and acute toxic myocarditis, respectively. After timely and appropriate treatment including removal of the stings and the use of intravenous methylprednisolone and antihistamines, the kidney function, liver function and heart function of 99 patients recovered within 1 month, while four patients died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided a good opportunity for recognizing the effect of Asian giant hornet stings and evaluating this serious public health event.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Bo-Hui
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, 3201 Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, 723000, Shaanxi, China. james.liu1111@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014863:Wasps; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acute interstitial nephritis; Acute toxic hepatitis; Acute toxic myocarditis; Asian giant hornet stings; Heart function protection