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Spontaneous epistaxis, nasal trauma and foreign bodies are common causes of nasal bleed in children. Epistaxis and haematemesis due to leeches have been reported in literature. Here we present a rare case of severe anemia caused by a single leech infestation of nasal cavity that required blood transfusion.

Abel, Rowntree and Turner are credited with the original concept, development and experimental use of an "artificial kidney" in 1913. Collodion tubes were used as the dialysis membrane, and hirudin (from the heads of leeches) was their anticoagulant. With this vividiffusion apparatus they were able to demonstrate that substances such as salicylate and urea could be successfully removed from the...

FDA-approved, postoperative use of leeches can lead to bacterial infections. In this study, we used culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches to characterize the digestive-tract microbiota of Hirudo orientalis. Surprisingly, two Aeromonas species, A. veronii and A. jandaei, were cultured. Uncultured Rikenella-like bacteria were most similar to isolates from Hirudo verbana.

Blood letting and the therapeutic use of Hirudo medicinalis date back to ancient Egypt and the beginning of civilisation. Their popularity has varied over the years, reaching such a peak in Europe between 1825 and 1850 that supplies were exhausted. Towards the end of the century they fell out of favour and, during this period, the leech, once used by the physicians of emperors and influential a...

out. It has been my experience that the preventive treatment recommended involves prolonged rest in bed, leeches, evaporating lotions, counter-irritation, fomentations, etc., and frequently, notwithstanding a loug trial, the case ends in suppuration requiring incision, and a long time spent in stuffing the cavity. Personal experience points out the great benefit derived from an early incision, ...

Medicinal leeches have an important and expanding role in medicine, but infection can complicate their use. We describe a unique case of Aeromonas meningitis associated with the use of leech therapy to salvage a skin flap after central nervous system surgery.