A rare cause of respiratory distress and hemopytsis: Laryngeal leech infestation

Abstract

Aquatic leech infestation of larynx involvement is very rare and may be life threatening due to airway obstruction. This article presents a case of hemoptysis, dyspnea and melena caused by the laryngeal localization of a leech. Endoscopic evaluation of our patient has shown a leech stuck on the laryngeal surface of epiglottis hanging down to the rima glottis. We present a patient with laryngeal leech who was a shepherd in the southeast region of Turkey.