Received: July 25, 2005, Accepted: September 16, 2005, Published online: May 31, 2006.

ACUTE PANCREATITIS AND ACUTE RENAL FAILURE FOLLOWING MULTIPLE HORNET STINGS

SHARMA N. (1), BALAMURUGESHAN P. K. (1), SHARMA A. (1)

(1) Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

ABSTRACT: Hymenoptera is a class of insects that sting in order to subdue their prey. Humans coming into accidental contact with these insects results in stings that may cause from mild local reaction like weal formation around the sting site to severe systemic reactions such as intravascular hemolysis, acute renal failure, pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, and rarely pancreatitis. We report here the clinical course of a patient who developed concurrent acute pancreatitis and pigment-induced acute renal failure after multiple hornet stings.

KEY WORDS: Hymenoptera, acute renal failure, rhabdomyolysis, hemolysis, pancreatitis, hornet stings.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

NAVNEET SHARMA, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, 160012, Chandigarh, India. Phone: 0091 0172 2747585. Ext.: 3653. Fax: 0091 0172 2744401. Email: navneet_433@sify.com or navneet207@yahoo.com.in.