Leech bite

Leech bite
Freshwater leech, Grande Ronde River, Oregon (USA).
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 B83.4, B88.3
ICD-9-CM 134.2

Leech bites are caused by leeches the class Hirudinea, which may be of marine, freshwater, or terrestrial types.[1]:434

Hand removing a leech is advised since they do not burrow into the skin nor the head in the wound,[2] while other texts advice shaking salt onto the body of the leech or scorch the leech with a cigarette or lighter. Because of the risk of regurgitation and infection, other texts advice against these last techniques.[3]

See also

References

  1. James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
  2. Burke, Don (2005). The complete Burke's backyard: the ultimate book of fact sheets. Murdoch Books. p. 647. ISBN 1-74045-739-0. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  3. Fujimoto, Gary; Marc Robin; Bradford Dessery (2003). The Traveler's Medical Guide. Prairie Smoke Press. p. 298. ISBN 0-9704482-5-2. Retrieved 2009-09-11.


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