Paresthesia in Envenomation by the Scorpion Leiurus Quinquestriatus

Abstract

We observed two patients with systemic paresthesia as the sole systemic manifestation of envenomation by L. quinquestriatus. A prospective study of the incidence of local and systemic paresthesia in 20 consecutive patients stung by this scorpion was done. Sixteen patients (80%) had only local complaints and 4/20 (20%) had mild systemic manifestations. Eleven patients (55%) had local paresthesia and in 2 patients (10%) systemic paresthesia was noted involving all four extremities in one patient and the perioral area in the other. The possible mechanism of paresthesia following a scorpion sting is discussed.

KEY WORDS:

• scorpion
• parenthesia
• chemically induced
• L. quinquestriatus