Author/Authors :
Al-Asmari, Abdulrahman K. Riyadh Military Hospital - Department of Research Center and Medicine, Saudi Arabia , Al-Seif, Abdulaziz A. Riyadh Military Hospital - Department of Research Center and Medicine, Saudi Arabia , Hassen, Mohsen A. Al-Birk General Hospital - Department of Pediatricsand Medicine, Saudi Arabia , Abdulmaksood, Nabil A. Al-Birk General Hospital - Department of Pediatricsand Medicine, Saudi Arabia
Abstract :
We report the ameliorating effects of prazosin on the cardiovascular (CV) manifestations and pulmonary edema (PE) after treatment with antivenom (AV) failed to improve the conditions of scorpion stung patients. Three cases of scorpion envenoming, 2 children and one adult, were received at the Accident and Emergency Department of Al-Birk Hospital, Asir Region, Saudi Arabia. They presented to the hospital late with features of severe perspiration, tachypnea, restlessness, drooling of saliva, priapism, sinus tachycardia, PE, and shock like syndrome. When polyvalent scorpion (PVS) AV and intensive supportive treatment failed to show any improvement, prazosin was administered to the patients, which resulted in dramatic improvement in the conditions of the patients. We conclude that PVS AV may not be beneficial in all cases of scorpion envenomation, and prazosin may be an effective alternative for treating scorpion sting cases with CV manifestations and PE.
