Introduction
Scorpion envenomation is a common pediatric emergency in endemic regions. In its severe form, it may trigger a catecholaminergic storm leading to acute fulminant myocarditis. This cardiac involvement is a major prognostic factor but potentially reversible with intensive care management.
Objective
To describe the clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic features of severe scorpion envenomation (SE) in children, with a focus on cardiac involvement related to catecholaminergic myocarditis.
Method
We conducted prospective descriptive study involving 10 children admitted to pediatric intensive care for stage III scorpion envenomation between 2016 and 2024. Clinical, biological, echocardiographic, and outcome data were analyzed from medical records.
Results
The cohort included 8 boys and 2 girls, aged between 4 and 15 years. The average delay between the sting and admission was 8.5 ± 1.2 hours.
All patients presented with respiratory distress: tachypnea, severe hypoxemia (average SpO2: 70%), and crackles on auscultation. Neurological signs included agitation (7 cases), stage II coma (2 cases), fasciculations (7 cases), and myoclonus (4 cases). Hemodynamically, all children exhibited cardiovascular collapse with a mean heart rate of 132 bpm. Chest imaging revealed fluffy pulmonary opacities consistent with acute pulmonary edema. Echocardiography showed marked left ventricular depression with global hypokinesia, apical ballooning, and significantly reduced ejection fraction (average 12%). Biological findings included elevated CPK and troponin levels, hyperglycemia in 2 cases, and acute kidney injury classified as stage R of the pediatric RIFLE score in 2 patients.
All children required mechanical ventilation, vasopressor support, cautious fluid resuscitation guided by echocardiographic preload assessment, and diuretics in 2 cases. Clinical outcomes were favorable in 9 patients, with one fatal case.
Conclusion
Catecholaminergic myocarditis represents the cornerstone of clinical severity in pediatric severe scorpion envenomation. Although dramatic, it is potentially reversible with appropriate and timely intensive care management.
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