Leech in the Rectum Causing Lower GI Bleeding in a Four Years Old Child: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Leeches belong to a group of annelids of the class Hirudinea which are blood feeding ecto-parasites of humans, wild animals and domesticated animals. A leech can suck out as much blood as ten times its own weight. Leech can occur at different sites in humans commonly in the eyes, nasopharynx, larynx, urethra, and vagina and rarely in the rectum. CASE DETAILS: This is a four years old male child who presented with painless, bright red rectal bleeding for two weeks. Heamatocrit was 9.2%. Leech was removed from the rectum by letting the child sit on a bucket of water. The patient was transfused, followed for 24 hours and discharged with iron sulphate syrup. CONCLUSION: Leech infestation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a child presenting with hematochezia.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

A 4-year-old boy presented with two weeks of painless, bright red rectal bleeding and a hematocrit of 9.2%; a leech was removed from the rectum by having him sit in a bucket of water, and he was transfused and discharged on iron sulphate syrup.

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