Vaginal bleeding due to leech

Case Report: A rare cause of vaginal bleeding at Keren Zonal Referral Hospital, Eritrea

Vaginal bleeding due to leech infestation is a very uncommon but important gynaecological problem. This report presents the case of a 65-year-old woman who presented to Keren Regional Referral Hospital, Eritrea, with vaginal bleeding of two and half weeks duration, dizziness and fatigue. On the day of her admission complete blood count and speculum exam were done and she was diagnosed with anaemia due to cervical leech infestation. Routine speculum exam for vaginal bleeding is recommended in cases with history of holy water or springs visits to prevent unnecessary diagnostic tests and for rapid management.

A Case Report on Prepubertal Vaginal Bleeding due to Leech Bite: History Is Very Important

Though prepubertal vaginal bleeding is rare, it can create a dilemma for both physicians and parents. Prepubertal vaginal bleeding due to leech bite is even rarer and very difficult to diagnose without proper history. We report a case of a six-year-old girl presenting with vaginal bleeding and ultimately diagnosed as a case of vaginal bleeding due to leech bite. We described how focused history helped us in diagnosis and management of such case in rural areas with limited healthcare resources. A detailed history with a high index of suspicion and a thorough examination is essential to diagnose leech bite in the vagina.

Pediatric Vaginal Leech Infestation with Severe Bleeding: A Case Report and Review Article

BACKGROUND

Vaginal leech infestation is a rare event with vaginal bleeding being its prominent sign. Few cases have been reported in young children.

CASE

In this article, we present a case of vaginal leech infestation in a 2-year-old girl who presented with significant vaginal bleeding that caused severe acute anemia, prompting transfusion. On examination, she appeared anemic, but healthy, without any signs of pubertal development. The leech was seen during examination with the patient under anesthesia and was removed. With removal of the leech, bleeding decreased significantly and stopped completely after 2 hours. She was discharged the next day in good condition.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The important concern in vaginal leech infestation is early diagnosis to prevent severe acute anemia and shock.

Unexpected reach of a leech

Vaginal bleeding as the result of a leech infestation is rare. Here we present two cases of hypovolemic shock with severe anemia requiring blood transfusion due to leech infestation. We also briefly review sparse literature available on this entity.

Vaginal hirudiniasis from Dhaherah Province, Oman: With a Note on Internal Hirudiniasis

A 75 years old lady from the Dhaherah Province, Oman, presented at Ibri Hospital, complaining from abnormal vaginal bleeding. Histopathological investigations of a cervical biopsy revealed no atypical features. A worm-like organism was removed from the vagina. Histocytological investigations of the organism revealed typical structures of a leech. The case was identified as vaginal hirudiniasis, probably due to Limnatis nilotica that necessitated a note on internal hirudiniasis.