Live Leech Hid In Woman's Sinus

[Schadenfroh]

Text

(AP) Doctors have removed a leech from the nose of a 55-year-old Hong Kong woman after she swam and washed her face in a stream, a medical journal reported.

The woman went to her doctor complaining of nose bleeds and an occasional sensation that something was blocking her left nostril, the Hong Kong Medical Journal said in its April issue. Her family doctor noticed a "brownish mass" in her nostril but couldn't remove it because of heavy bleeding, the journal said.

The patient was taken to the emergency room, where doctors identified the problem as a bloodsucking leech. They had trouble pulling it out because the 2-inch-long invertebrate retracted into the nostril and disappeared, the journal said.

Part of the slimy leech was in a passage of her nasal cavity and a larger segment was in her sinus cavity, the article said.

Doctors used a nasal spray to anesthetize the dark brown leech that had a sucker on the front part of its body. "After two minutes, the leech moved slowly out of the antrum (sinus) and was retrieved with forceps," the journal said.

The woman said that one month before her symptoms developed, she swam and washed her face in a stream while hiking. Doctors checked other members of her hiking group and found another leech in the nose of a man who washed his face in the stream, the journal said.

The article said the leech could have caused suffocation if it moved into the patients' larynx, or voice box.

 

[Xyclone]

...

 

[thelanx]

^ what his sig says.

 

[jjzelinski]

That's uhh.... horrible, wretched, disgusting, revolting, nauseating

 

[Mrvile]

Hmm I have those problems a lot too maybe I should get it looked at?

 

[mercanucaribe]

Did they put maggots up there to stop the bleeding?

 

[halik]

nasty...

 

[yobarman]

now that is fuc ked up.

 

[PHiuR]

holy!! that is amazing.

 

[xEDIT409]

man, i'm about to head out to qdoba...

 

[StormRider]

That's why I don't understand why people like to go camping or hiking.

 

[DeafeningSilence]

eeeew

 

[suse920]

omg

 

[everman]

Doctors checked other members of her hiking group and found another leech in the nose of a man who washed his face in the stream, the journal said.

Apparently this guy didn't even notice it? It doesn't mention him having any problems...

 

[mwmorph]

this is the last time i go outdoors.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
this is the last time i go outdoors.

lol Me too.

 

[Bootprint]

At least it was only a leech in her nose, and not maggots.

 

[Juno]

:Q

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Bootprint
At least it was only a leech in her nose, and not maggots.

Wow, Australian news is interesting. All we get is "psycho mom kills her kids and husband", and "Guess what's on the new Survivor!!"

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: StormRider
That's why I don't understand why people like to go camping or hiking.

Because once in your lifetime someone on the other side of the world from you gets a leech in thier nose? If that's keeping you inside the house, you're the world's most gigantic wuss.

 

[RU482]

kinda trumps the leach in the movie "Stand by me"

 

[Pepsei]

wow

 

[TheShiz]

stop. think about this. WHY IS THIS CRAP NEWS! Is this the most important stuff going on in the world? some lady has a leech in her nose, goodness.

 

[jdub1107]

Wow. That is pretty disgusting. Get the shivers just thinking about it.

 

[Geekbabe]

is that sorta like a real time version of stargate and the goauld ? shudder :Q