Vaginal Leech Infestation:

Abstract

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Vaginal  bleeding  during childhood  is always abnormal,rare and warrants diagnostic evaluation. Leech bites are a recognized cause of bleeding from any human orifice upon exposure to water which is infested with leeches.The definitive diagnosis relies on meticulous history taking, as well as a judicious examination including speculum examination. A high level of suspicion is necessary to make the diagnosis.

CASE  DETAILS:  A 3 years old young girl presented  with  vaginal  bleeding  of  1  weeks  duration on 28/10/2016  to Jimma university Hospital Medical Center,Ethiopia.On examination,  she had normal vital signs and blood soaked vulva, there was  a  dark moving worm in vaginal introits with instillation of saline  into  the  vagina. The leech  was  removed  from  the  vagina with help of suction tube and  She  was  discharged with good condition on the 2^ndpost procedure day.

CONCLUSION: Vaginal leech infestation in children can cause Life-threatening conditions from failure or delay in making the diagnosis and management. In addition, the importance of  instillation of saline to vagina not only used for treatment;it can also used for diagnosis in children with intact hymen and where pediatrics speculum is not available.