Cardiac effects of insect bites

Associate Editor:

Snake bite
Cardiovascular effects of snake bites (snake venom) as follow;


 * Coronary spasm and acute myocardial infarction


 * Hypercoagulability. There are some procoagulants such as arginine esterase in snake venom. Therefore, significant envenomation may result in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)


 * Myocarditis


 * Hypovolemic shock: Snake venom has haemorrhagins. Haemorrhagins increase vascular permeability and cause tendency to bleeding. Acute myocardial infarction can occur by profound hypotension and hypovolemic shock secondary to this bleeding tendency effect of snake venom.

EKG Examples
Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicating Snake Bite

Scorpions
Death by scorpion sting, if it occurs, is the result of heart failure or respiratory failure a few hours after the incident. The most frequent cardiovascular and pulmonary findings are:
 * 1) Tachypnea
 * 2) Tachycardia
 * 3) Hypertension
 * 4) Arrhythmias
 * 5) Hyperkinetic pulmonary edema

EKG Examples
Cardiovascular Manifestations of Scorpion Sting