LEECH INFESTATION THE UNUSUAL CAUSE OF UPPER AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION

Abstract

This paper presents a case of a 7 year-old child who presented with a 14-days history of bloodstained saliva and shortness of breath of 3 days with signs of upper airway obstruction.Laryngoscopy revealed a blackish living foreign body in the proximal trachea. Under generalanesthesia the leech was removed by applying forceps. I conclude that a high index of suspicionof leech infestation is required when faced with a child presenting with unexplained bleedingper mouth and signs of upper airway obstruction.