Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical and biochemical syndrome that occurs due to skeletal muscle injury. The main cause of rhabdomyolysis is muscle crush injury, toxins, ischemia, metabolic disorders, and drugs. Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis have been reported after insect stings. Damage to skeletal muscle may be due to physical damage to muscle cells directly or due to interferences with their blood supply. Breakdown products of damaged muscle cells are released into the bloodstream; some of these, such as the protein myoglobin, are harmful to the kidneys and may lead to kidney failure. The symptoms of rhabdomyolysis depend on the severity of the condition. Milder forms of rhabdomyolysis may not cause any muscle symptoms, and the diagnosis is based on abnormal blood tests. Here in, we report an unusual case of rhabdomyolysis triggered by fire ant bites to alert the medical community of this rare complication.

Authors and Affiliations