Hémorragies digestives hautes révélant une sangsue

Background Leeches are a class of hermaphroditic parasites that can attach to various body parts and start sucking blood. Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding due to leeches is a rare phenomenon that is more common in less developed countries. Common symptoms include melena, hematemesis, pallor, weakness, and fatigue. Due to the similar symptoms of this issue to the main differential diagnoses of GI bleeding in pediatrics, such as diarrhea, constipation, diverticulitis, esophagitis, and anal fissures, it is challenging to differentiate it from the rest. Case presentation We present a three-year-old boy who was transferred to our center with hematemesis, tarry stool, and a drop in hemoglobin level. He finally was diagnosed with a leech in his stomach. Conclusions In less developed counties, the inability to reach safe drinking water, swim in lakes or springs, and inadequate awareness of public health information among individuals can be risk factors for leech infestation.

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Manifestation of leech infestation as severe gastrointestinal bleeding in a 3-year-old boy: a case report and review of the literature

Reihani

Ghanei-Shahmirzadi

Salehi

et al. 2022

BMC Pediatr

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Esophageal Hirudiniasis: an Unusual Cause of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Mahmoudi¹,

Nasr²,

Khsiba³

et al. 2022

Future Sci. OA

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Leeches are carnivorous, hermaphroditic, segmented worms mainly found in fresh water. The majority of leech attachments are external and short-lasting. Internal surfaces can be involved. Yet, esophageal attachment is very rare. We report a case of a 59-year-old female who presented with hematemesis, melena and chest pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a round black foreign body in the mid-third of the esophagus identified as a leech. We carefully extracted the worm with a forceps applied to the middle of its body. The diagnosis of leech infestation should be kept in mind when exploring gastrointestinal bleeding in patients living in rural areas and those with poor living conditions.

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Hémorragies digestives hautes révélant une sangsue

Cited by 2 publications

References 4 publications

Manifestation of leech infestation as severe gastrointestinal bleeding in a 3-year-old boy: a case report and review of the literature

Manifestation of leech infestation as severe gastrointestinal bleeding in a 3-year-old boy: a case report and review of the literature

Esophageal Hirudiniasis: an Unusual Cause of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

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