Cutaneous complications of improper leech application
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2012, Vol 19, Issue 4
Abstract
Introduction: The medical leech ([i]Hirudo medicinalis[/i]) has been used throughout the centuries and continues to be used today, mainly in reconstructive surgery and microsurgery. Easy access to these animals may entail an improper use of this therapeutic method by patients as a form of self-treatment.Case report: A man who presented with skin erythema and oedema due to the application of a medical leech.Discussion: Infection is considered the most common complication of hirudotherapy, even though bacteriological examination of leech applied by the patient showed neither bacterial nor parasitic infection. The skin lesions were probably of allergic origin; whether this reaction was due to substances released from the leech or as a consequence of reusing the same leech, remains to be determined.
Authors and Affiliations
Aldona Pietrzak, Jean Kanitakis , Krzysztof Tomasiewicz, Bartłomiej Wawrzycki, Jolanta Kozłowska-Łój , Ewa Dybiec , Grażyna Chodorowska
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP80553
- DOI -
- Views 130
- Downloads 0
In vitro effects of fipronil on neuronal excitability in mammalian and molluscan nervous systems.
The effect of the insecticide fipronil on non-target organisms was studied on rat brain slices and identified giant neurons of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. This compound acts as an antagonist on GABA(A) receptors. A...
Next generation sequencing for preimplantation genetic testing of blastocysts aneuploidies in women of different ages
Most of the current preimplantation genetic screening of aneuploidies tests are based on the low quality and low density comparative genomic hybridization arrays. The results are based on fewer than 2,700 probes. Our mai...
Evaluation of effect of selected occupational factors on termination of pregnancy and state of the newborn
The occupational activity of women has become a common phenomenon in the majority of developed countries, where approximately 50% of women at reproductive age are occupationally active. This phenomenon has also been obse...
Fatty acid composition in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum in adult rats receiving salmon oil for 6 months
[b]Introduction.[/b] Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) play an important role in the functioning of the brain, particularly in childhood and old age. The diet of pregnant mothers as well as very young children, affects...
Diagnostic methods of TSH in thyroid screening tests
Introduction: Reliable and quick thyreologic diagnostics, as well as verification of the effectiveness of the therapy undertaken, is of great importance for the state of health of society. The measurement of plasma TSH i...