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Post menopausal vaginal bleeding due to vaginal wall leech infestation
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mekelle Hospital, Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Medical Journal
|July 1, 1995
Summary
A rare case of postmenopausal bleeding caused by an aquatic leech infestation is presented. This unusual finding highlights the need to consider leech infestation in the differential diagnosis of abnormal vaginal bleeding in endemic areas.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Parasitology
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is a significant gynecological concern, often investigated for endometrial carcinoma.
- Differential diagnoses for PMB typically include atrophic vaginitis, endometrial hyperplasia, and malignancy.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old patient presented with severe anemia and hemorrhagic shock due to postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.
- Speculum examination revealed a darkish mass in the posterior vaginal fornix.
- Instillation of Lidocaine caused the mass to detach and exhibit movement, revealing it to be an aquatic leech.
Findings:
- The patient's postmenopausal bleeding was definitively caused by an aquatic leech attached to the vaginal wall.
- This represents a previously unreported cause of postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.
Implications:
- Aquatic leech infestation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abnormal vaginal bleeding, particularly in regions where leeches are endemic.
- Raising awareness among healthcare professionals in endemic areas is crucial for prompt diagnosis and management.