Rarely a leech may make its way into the external auditory canal where it tries to feed a blood meal.
Source: swimming in a natural body of water containing leeches
Clinical findings:
(1) otalgia
(2) otorrhagia
(3) sense of something in the ear
Differential diagnosis:
(1) foreign body (typically in a small child)
(2) tick or insect
The patient should be examined for other leeches.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
Specialty: Emergency Medicine