[An Uncommon Cause of Epistaxis: Nasopharyngeal Hirudiniasis].

Abstract

The leech that is taken by ingestion of contaminated water can settle on any location at upper respiratory tract from nose to larynx. It sucks blood by adhering to the mucosa and causes mucosal bleeding by secreting hirudin. If the leech goes forward to the larynx, this can be life threatening due to severe airway obstruction. We are presenting 23 year-old male patient who admitted to our hospital with anterior and posterior nose bleeding and dysphagia due to the leech located in the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. The treatment and differential diagnosis of epistaxis is discussed in this article.

• Authors: Ali Çağlı, Hatice Çelik
• Journal: Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi (Turkiye Parazitol Derg) Vol. 39 Issue 2 Pg. 171-3 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 2146-3077 [Electronic] Turkey
• Vernacular Title: Epistaksisin Nadir Bir Nedeni: Nazofarengeal Huridiniasis.
• PMID: 26081895 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Animals
• Deglutition Disorders (parasitology)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Epistaxis (diagnosis, parasitology)
• Humans
• Leeches (physiology)
• Male
• Nasopharyngeal Diseases (complications, parasitology)
• Nasopharynx (parasitology)
• Parasitic Diseases (complications, parasitology)
• Young Adult