Cerebral Infarction Following Bee Sting: A Case Report and Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70088/fs6hj236Keywords:
bee sting, cerebral infarction, ischaemic stroke, anaphylaxis, hypercoagulabilityAbstract
Bee stings typically cause local or systemic allergic reactions, but secondary cerebral infarction is an exceedingly rare complication. We report a 65‐year‐old man who developed motor aphasia and right‐sided hemiplegia approximately 19 hours after being stung by bees on the left forehead and left upper arm. Imaging revealed a new acute infarct in the left frontotemporal lobe and basal ganglia, superimposed on severe pre‐existing left internal carotid artery stenosis. Laboratory tests showed elevated fibrinogen and D‐dimer, indicating a hypercoagulable state. After antiplatelet therapy, lipid‐lowering statin treatment, and comprehensive rehabilitation, the patient was left with persistent right‐sided motor dysfunction and aphasia. We review the 25 previously reported cases and discuss potential mechanisms, including systemic inflammation, hypercoagulability, allergy‐related hypotension, vasoconstriction mediated by vasoactive substances, and sympathetic dysregulation. This case underscores that bee stings can act as a significant trigger for ischaemic stroke in patients with underlying cerebrovascular stenosis, and clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion when neurological symptoms emerge after envenomation.References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Yongping Wei, Cenxuelun Zhang (Author)
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