Tityus pachyurus sting in Colombia - a case report

The genus Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 is the most medical genus in South America and several species are known to cause death and serious morbidity, especially in children. In Colombia, Tityus pachyurus Pocock, 1897 is known to cause life threatening symptoms in children. This species pose a special threat because its normal habitat is inside and outside homes in some areas. 

Ledys Izquierdo & Javier Buitrago have recently published a paper presenting a case where a 12 year old boy was stung during sleep in his home. The boy developed serious symptoms, but survived after medical treatment.

Abstract:
The scorpion envenomation is considered the second event by poisonous animals in importance around the world according to the World Health Organization. In Colombia there are 35 species of clinical significance, among them, the genus Tityus, which contains the most deadly scorpions in South America and is represented by 29 species of wide distribution in Colombia, which include Tityus pachyurus causing life-threatening events, especially in children. The present work shows the case of a 12 years old boy, from Tolemaida to 2 h of Bogotá D.C., who was stung by a scorpion on his right thigh, with the onset of intense signs and symptoms of local effect rapidly progressing to severe systemic involvement causing myocardial dysfunction, cardiovascular collapse and heart arrest, and his favorable response to adequate basic and advanced life support and use of scorpionspecific F(ab0)2 antivenom.

Reference:
Izquierdo LM, Rodriguez Buitrago JR. Cardiovascular dysfunction and pulmonary edema secondary to severe envenoming by Tityus pachyurus sting. Case report. Toxicon. 2012. Epub 2012/06/12. [Subscription required for full text]