Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Murine Nasal Lavage Fluid Collection without Blood Contamination
Published on: July 11, 2025
Leech in the Nose - an unusual cause of epistaxis
N Zainuddin1, P Nair2, F Razali3
1MMed-ORL-HNS (USM), Health & Wellbeing (HW) Core, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Abstract:
Leech is an uncommon nasal foreign body, which can cause epistaxis. It is an aquatic segmental worm living in fresh water most commonly in tropical areas. Once it is attached in the nose, it will secrete an anticoagulant enzyme named hirudin, and that will result in continuous bleeding more than from a normal wound even after it is removed. We present a case of a live leech in the nose that caused unilateral epistaxis in a patient with a recent history of jungle trekking.
Related Concept Videos
Epistaxis
Etiology
Possible causes of this condition include high blood pressure, trauma, low humidity, upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, foreign bodies, nasal inhalation of corticosteroids or illicit drugs, excessive use of decongestant nasal sprays, facial or nasal surgery, anatomic malformation, tumors, or systemic...
Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal Airway
Equipment Required
Nose and Nasal Cavity
Esophageal Varices-I: Introduction

