INTRODUCTION: Infrared imaging (IR) is a noninvasive technique that quantifies body surface temperature, producing a digital color image. IR has been used to study diseases in which skin temperature can reflect the presence of inflammation. METHODS: This was an observational pilot study of eight patients envenomed by snakes, spiders, and scorpions. All patients were examined using a thermal camera. RESULTS: In all cases, we obtained infrared images that corroborated clinical findings indicating localized effects of venom, specifically inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: IR has potential for use as a research, diagnostic, and monitoring tool for localized effects of animal venoms.
INTRODUCTION: Infrared imaging (IR) is a noninvasive technique that quantifies body surface temperature, producing a digital color image. IR has been used to study diseases in which skin temperature can reflect the presence of inflammation. METHODS: This was an observational pilot study of eight patients envenomed by snakes, spiders, and scorpions. All patients were examined using a thermal camera. RESULTS: In all cases, we obtained infrared images that corroborated clinical findings indicating localized effects of venom, specifically inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: IR has potential for use as a research, diagnostic, and monitoring tool for localized effects of animal venoms.
Authors: Luiza Helena Gremski; Hanna Câmara da Justa; Thaís Pereira da Silva; Nayanne Louise Costacurta Polli; Bruno César Antunes; João Carlos Minozzo; Ana Carolina Martins Wille; Andrea Senff-Ribeiro; Raghuvir Krishnaswamy Arni; Silvio Sanches Veiga Journal: Toxins (Basel) Date: 2020-03-06 Impact factor: 4.546