Ocular Infestation by Leech

Jamuna Gurung^1, and Khem Raj Kaini¹

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal

Cite this paper

Jamuna Gurung and Khem Raj Kaini. Ocular Infestation by Leech. American Journal of Public Health Research. 2015; 3(5A):4-5. doi: 10.12691/AJPHR-3-5A-2

Abstract

Background: To share our experiences with a patient of leech infestation. Case description: A 70 years male presented to outpatient department of ophthalmology, Manipal Teaching Hospital with complaints of foreign body sensation, itching and redness of left eye for the past 7 days. He gives history of washing his face in tap water which comes directly from the stream and he had symptoms after this incident. Clinical diagnosis was leech adherent to the bulbar conjunctiva near the limbus at 1 o’clock position. The leech was extracted and there was no obvious signs and symptoms except for mild subconjunctival hemorrhage. Conclusion: Ocular infestation by leech is a rare occurrence. However, this should be considered when patient give history of foreign body sensation, redness and discomfort following swimming or washing face in streams, lakes or ponds.

Keywords

leech, stream, conjunctiva

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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