A Case of Hirudiniasis with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Abstract

Leech infestations can lead to several symptoms, including epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematemesis, vaginal bleeding and anemia. A five-year-old male patient presented to the emergency ward with bilateral bleeding from the nose in the form of leakage with a duration of one month, as well as bloody vomiting and blood in the sputum for two days prior to admission. The patient was pale, the nose and oropharyngeal mucosa were pale with fresh leakagetype bleeding and there was a similar clot in the nasopharynx. Laboratory examinations were normal. Examination of the oropharynx and nasopharynx was repeated to assess for active bleeding, and a leech 4x1 cm in size was found in addition to a clot. The leech was detached from the mucosa following administration of a hypertonic saline solution and removed with forceps. Leech infestation should be considered in cases of bleeding and anemia of unknown etiology in patients from rural areas.

A Rare Cause of Epistaxis due to Leech Infestation: A Case Report

“…Leeches can generally pass into the human body when using unfiltered water to bathe or to drink in rural areas (4). Abuhandan et al (5) reported a 5-year-old patient, complaining of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to a leech, who lived in the countryside and used unfiltered water. In our patient, we believe that the leech was taken into the body by drinking contaminated water.…”