Evaluation of antivenom therapy in children severely envenomed by Androctonus australis garzonii (Aag) and Buthus occitanus tunetanus (Bot) scorpions

One hundred and forty-seven cases of envenomed children under 15 years old presenting local and general symptoms without failure in vital functions (c linical grade II) or presenting serious general symptoms with failure in vi tal functions (clinical grade III) were collected during the summer seasons of 1993-1997. They were classified in six groups according to the use or n ot of antivenom, the route and the frequency of antivenom administration. T he determination, by a sensitive ELISA, of blood venom concentration before and until 6 h after antivenom therapy, allowed the establishment of the ve nom toxicokinetic curve for each group. The intramuscular administration of antivenom did not show significant effects on venom toxicokinetic curves a nd on patients recovery time. However, the same amount of antivenom adminis tered by intravenous route clear rapidly the blood free venom toxins. Also, the patient recovery lime was significantly shortened. These data are in f avor of intravenous application of an adequate dose of an efficient antiven om in order to treat successfully severe scorpion envenoming cases. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.