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Médecine et Santé Tropicales

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Severe scorpion envenomation: pathophysiology and the role of inflammation in multiple organ failure Volume 27, issue 2, Avril-Mai-Juin 2017

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Authors
1 Hôpital Habib Bourguiba, service de réanimation médicale, route El Ain Km 1, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie
2 Hôpital Hedi Chaker, service de pédiatrie générale, route El Ain Km 1, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie
* Correspondant

Scorpion stings occur on every continent except Antarctica. The correlation between young age and severity of clinical manifestations after this envenomation is well-established. Several studies have emphasized the relevance of pro-inflammatory mediators in the pathophysiological manifestations of human scorpion envenomation. Moreover, there is a significant association between pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the blood and the severity of scorpion envenomation. Release of these cytokines increases the severity of the visceral damage induced by the direct action of the venom and the activation of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.