Delayed Toxic Reaction Following Massive Bee Envenomation

Abstract

Massive bee envenomation can produce both immediate and delayed toxic reaction. Signs and symptoms of immediate toxic reaction are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, hemolysis, kidney failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The label “delayed toxic reaction” refers to a patient who is asymptomatic after a massive bee envenomation, with normal initial laboratory results, but later demonstrates laboratory evidence of hemolysis, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, rhabdomyolysis, liver dysfunction, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The subject of this case report, a 66-year-old man, was stung more than 125 times in an attack by Africanized bees. He was initially asymptomatic, except for pain, and his laboratory findings were normal. The first signs of his fatal multi–organ-system failure were not apparent until 18 hours after envenomation. This experience has led the Good Samaritan Regional Poison Center in Phoenix, AZ, to recommend a 24-hour hospitalization for pediatric patients, older patients, and patients with underlying medical problems who are asymptomatic or who are experiencing only pain after an envenomation of 50 or more stings. Such patients have an increased risk of tissue injury, which may be delayed and which may be more effectively treated if identified early rather than on 12- to 24-hour follow-up. All other envenomated, asymptomatic patients or envenomated patients experiencing only pain who become symptomatic or who belatedly exhibit laboratory values consistent with hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, rhabdomyolysis, liver dysfunction, kidney failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation within a 6-hour emergency department observation period should be admitted. Intravenous fluids, blood products, dialysis, and other intensive measures should be initiated if necessary. [Kolecki P: Delayed toxic reaction following massive bee envenomation. Ann Emerg Med January 1999;33:114-116.]