Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: January | Volume: 10 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 63-68
Study of Electrocardiographic Findings on Admission to Correlate With the Final Outcome in Children with Scorpion Sting
Chayan Chakma1, Meena Patel2, Karan Joshi3, Naresh Bajaj4
1Junior resident, 2Associate Professor, 3Professor, 4Professor and Head,
Department of Pediatrics, Shyam Shah Medical College, associated Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh 486001
Corresponding Author: Chayan Chakma
ABSTRACT
Background: Scorpion sting in pediatric age groups is a life-threatening emergency especially in dry, hot environment of tropical and subtropical countries. ECG is one of the easily available tools and ECG changes are well established in scorpion envenomation.
Aims and Objectives: To correlate electrocardiographic findings at the time of admission with the final outcome in children with scorpion sting.
Material and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted over a period of two years. A total of 92 pediatric patients with confirmed scorpion sting of age between two months to 18 years were included.
Results: Mean age of the cohorts was 6.57±3.92 years; mean duration of stay was 3.9±1.59 days. Total 7 (7.6%) children died, and 57.14% were stung by brown scorpion. The duration between sting and PICU admission, and the need of inotrope on admission were significantly correlated with poor outcome (p <0.05). Most common ECG characteristic finding was change in rate (tachycardia). Abnormal rate and rhythm, abnormal ST changes, and abnormal QRS Axis are the ECG findings that significantly correlated with poor outcome of the cohorts (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: Irrespective of cause of death in scorpion sting, ECG findings including rate, rhythm, ST changes, and QRS axis were found to be associated with poor outcome in pediatric patients.
Key words: Electrocardiographic changes, Scorpion sting