JIST

Abstract

Scorpion stings are one of the common emergencies that can present to emergency room in tropical regions like India. Even though many of the stings only produce severe local pain and parasthesia, severe systemic envenomation can occur at times which can be life threatening. Since most of the patients are from the rural areas early diagnosis of unknown bites are usually difficult due lack of medical expertise in many areas. Here we report a case of scorpion sting with severe systematic envenomation who presented as an unknown bite with suspected neurotoxic snake bite who later developed ischemic infarcts in thalamus, frontoparietal lobes and cerebellum associated with microbleeds. Cerebrovascular complications like ischemic infarcts and intracranial hemorrhage secondary to scorpion sting are rare. Infarcts can occur due to various mechanisms like cerebral vasospasm, embolic secondary to myocarditis, disseminated intravascular coagulation etc.