Mucosal hirudiniasis presenting as palatal mass: A case report and review of the literature
Case report published in Ann Med Surg (2020)
Abstract
This paper presents the case of a 5-year-old child who presented with an 15-day history of a swelling over the palatal region and blood stained saliva. Intraoral examination showed dark red circular mass rising from the hard palate. Diagnosis of mucosal hirudiniasis have been made. The parasite has been extracted under local anesthesia using a blunt forceps, it has been identified as an adult Limnatis nilotica. Leech endoparasitism must be suspected in case of bleed from throat, dysphagia or any other related symptom, especially in pediatric patients who have been exposed to freshwater. Prevention remains the best medicine.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Case of a 5-year-old child with a 15-day history of palatal swelling and blood-stained saliva, diagnosed as mucosal hirudiniasis (leech infestation of oropharyngeal mucosa). Review of the rare entity.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This case report describes a 5-year-old child presenting with a 15-day history of palatal swelling and blood-stained saliva, in whom intraoral examination revealed a dark red mass on the hard palate diagnosed as mucosal hirudiniasis, with an adult Limnatis nilotica leech extracted under local anesthesia. The authors emphasize suspecting leech endoparasitism in pediatric patients with throat bleeding or dysphagia, especially after freshwater exposure. This article documents pathogenic mucosal leech infestation, not therapeutic hirudotherapy or the leech secretome, and thus has no direct relevance to ASH's domain.
Citation
Mucosal hirudiniasis presenting as palatal mass: A case report and review of the literature.
Bijou W et al. · Annals of medicine and surgery, 2020
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