Paresthesia in envenomation by the scorpion leiurus quinquestriatus

We observed two patients with systemic paresthesia as the sole systemic manifestation of envenomation by L. quinquestriatus. A prospective study of the incidence of local and systemic paresthesia in 20 consecutive patients stung by this scorpion was done. Sixteen patients (80% had only local complaints and 4/20 (20% had mild systemic manifestations. Eleven patients (55% had local paresthesia and in 2 patients (10% systemic paresthesia was noted involving all four extremities in one patient and the perioral area in the other. The possible mechanism of paresthesia following a scorpion sting is discussed.