Leech on the eye in a child.
OBJECTIVE
to present the case of a 4-year-old girl with leech infestation of the ocular surface.


METHODS
observational case report.


RESULTS
a 4-year-old girl presented with a two-day history of bleeding from the left eye. Examination under anesthesia revealed a leech adhering to the cornea and bulbar conjunctiva. Irrigation with normal saline released the leech from the conjunctiva. Detaching from the cornea was successful after injection of suxamethonium 50 mg/ml into the worm.


CONCLUSIONS
The possibility of leech infestation need to be considered in the differential diagnosis of open-globe injury with prolapse of uveal tissue. The use of a muscle relaxant for leech removal was not previously documented.
Tenkir
Addis
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Jimma University, Ethiopia.
Tibebu
Tigist
T
D000818:Animals; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000469:parasitology; D003315:Cornea / Q000469:parasitology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007865:Leeches; D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009467:Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D013390:Succinylcholine