Scorpion Sting and Acute Kidney Injury: Case Series from Pakistan

Objectives: We aim to report here a series of cases developing AKI after scorpion stings.

Patients and Methods: During a period of 25 years that is; from January 1990- December 2014 all the patients coming to Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, with AKI after scorpion sting are included in study. AKI was defined according to RIFLE criteria and Scorpion sting was labeled on history of person stung by scorpion.

Results: During studied period 18 patients were brought with scorpion sting. Mean age of patients was 29.22±18.48 years, 7 were male and 11 females. Mean duration of insult was 8.94±4.12 days. Sixteen out of 18 patients were either oliguric or anuric on presentation. Uremia was advanced on arrival with mean urea of 324.38±116.82 and creatinine of 11.8±4.30 mg/dl. Hyponatremia was a common finding with mean sodium of 129.16±8.76 meq/l. Extensive tissue damage at site of sting observed in many patients and mean values for LDH and CK were 2349.71±3499.15 and 3116.23±5468.22 U/L respectively. Hemodialysis required in all patients. Complete renal recovery seen in 13 patients, 2 expired and 3 discharged from hospital in partial state of recovery and never turned for follow up.

Conclusion: Scorpion sting is major health problem in many parts of our country, in majority it takes a benign course but in some may affect multiple organs and result in death, especially if initial treatment is delayed.