On November 4, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital announced that doctors from the Intensive Care – Anti-Poisoning Department successfully saved a 9-year-old girl who was stung by over 50 hornets. She was admitted to the hospital in critical condition, suffering from multi-organ failure.
Previously, on October 13, the patient was hospitalized with symptoms of difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, sallow skin and sclera, and anuria – severe manifestations of multi-organ failure caused by hornet venom.
A young girl receiving emergency medical care after a severe hornet attackThe child being emergency treated after the bee attack (Photo: Hoang Yen).
Doctors activated an emergency protocol, mobilizing maximum personnel and equipment to fight for the girl’s life. The patient was put on a ventilator, received blood transfusions and blood products, continuous hemodialysis, diuretics, combined antibiotics, and strict monitoring of liver, kidney, and circulatory functions.
After nearly half a month of intensive treatment, the girl was weaned off the ventilator and hemodialysis, and her liver and kidney functions had recovered. Currently, the patient is conscious, eating and living normally, and is preparing for discharge.
Dr. Nguyen Hung Manh, Head of the Intensive Care – Anti-Poisoning Department, shared: “Hornet venom is very potent, containing many enzymes and toxins that cause hemolysis, liver and kidney damage, coagulation disorders, and can even lead to death if not treated promptly.”
Dr. Manh advised that if stung by a hornet, people should not rely on folk remedies but should leave the area, remove the stinger, clean the wound, apply a cold compress, and quickly go to the nearest medical facility. If there are signs of difficulty breathing, severe swelling, jaundice, decreased urination, or extreme fatigue, immediate emergency care is needed to avoid the risk of multi-organ failure and death.
