Logo American Journal of Case Reports

Call: 1.631.629.4328
Mon-Fri 10 am - 2 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports Logo American Journal of Case Reports

07 June 2013

A rare case of adverse effects caused by leech bite

Ugur LokABCDEFG, Selim BozkurtABCDEFG, Mehmet OkurABCDEFG, Umut GulactiABCDEFG, Sinan HatipogluABCDEFG

DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.883936

Am J Case Rep 2013; 14:191-193

Abstract

Background: Hirudo medicinalis (H. Medicinalis), also referred to as the medical leech, not only has been used by alternative medicine since ancient times, but it has also been used in modern medical care in the last century. This report introduces and discusses some rare complications from leech bite, beyond external skin hemorrhage.
Case Report: A 42-year-old woman was referred to our emergency room with painful and itchy lesions on her feet and legs. Because of her knee and leg pain, about 14 leeches were adhered onto both her legs. There were left rubor, tumor and some other areas of itching on leech-adhered regions. In physical examination, the right popliteal region and the same leg posterior area lesions were erythematous, edematous, and plaque-like shaped, as well as ecchymotic and hemorrhagic areas at the centre of the lesions.
Conclusions: In this article we present the case of a woman referred to our emergency department with skin findings related to a leech bite. We could not find any report about regional subcutaneous hematoma and cutaneous reactions in the literature. H. medicinalis may cause ecchymosis and various skin lesions, not only external skin bleeding. Physicians should keep in mind leech bite in patients with itchy lesions on the calves, knees, and feet.

Keywords: leech bite, complications of leech bite, regional subcutaneous hematoma, Cutaneous reactions

Add Comment 0 Comments

In Press

12 Feb 2024 : Case report  Germany

Diagnostic Challenges and Imaging Considerations for Intraparotid Facial Nerve Schwannoma: A Case Report an...

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942870  

0:00

12 Feb 2024 : Case report  USA

Erdheim-Chester Disease Occult on Radiographs and CT but Visible on MRI and PET

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.941169  

0:00

12 Feb 2024 : Case report  USA

Surgical Treatment of Spontaneous Superficial Temporal Artery Arteriovenous Malformation: A Case Report

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942839  

13 Feb 2024 : Case report  Bahrain

Warfarin Woes: A Rare Case of Hemoperitoneum with Intramural Small Bowel Hematoma

Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.943519  

Most Viewed Current Articles

10 Jan 2022 : Case report  Germany

A Report on the First 7 Sequential Patients Treated Within the C-Reactive Protein Apheresis in COVID (CACOV...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935263

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935263

19 Jul 2022 : Case report  Saudi Arabia

Atlantoaxial Subluxation Secondary to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Rare Orthopedic Complication from COVID-19

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.936128

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e936128

05 Mar 2022 : Case report  Brazil

Acute Limb Ischemia After Self-Injection of Crushed Morphine Tablets into the Radial Artery: Role of Infrar...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935336

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935336

02 Apr 2022 : Case report  Saudi Arabia

Infective Endocarditis Caused by Pseudomonas luteola in a Pediatric Patient. A Case Report and Review of Li...

DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935743

Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935743

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923
American Journal of Case Reports eISSN: 1941-5923