Surprising Cause of Respiratory Distress in Child

Abstract

Foreign body aspiration is a major problem that can cause respiratory distress and oral bleeding in a child. Leeches are rarely seen foreign bodies in the larynx. Generally, they live in springwater and can be aspirated by drinking. They can cause respiratory distress, oral bleeding, and anemia, if diagnostic process is delayed. When leeches are detected, urgent diagnosis and treatment are necessary. In this case, we present a 7-year-old child examined in the emergency service with these symptoms. A dark green living body in the larynx was detected and removed urgently under sedo-analgesia. The living body was seen as a leech that is 5 cm in length.

Foreign Body Aspiration: Imaging Aspects

“…Laryngeal or tracheal hirudiniasis following leech infestation while drinking infected stream water can cause the same symptoms due to mechanical obstruction. In addition, the combination of the grasp of the mucosa by the leech cutting plates and secretion of an anticoagulant causes hemorrhage that can result in prolonged hemoptysis and anemia (Mohammad et al 2002;Yazici et al 2012).…”

Diagnostic dilemma in a case of a leech in the upper aerodigestive tract

“…Similar diagnostic dilemmas have been frequently reported. [ 5 ] Once the diagnosis is established, the treatment is straightforward. It has generally been recommended that leeches in the upper aerodigestive tract should be removed endoscopically with a forceps after tranquilizing them, as they can be slippery.…”