Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : November 22, 2017 5:02 PM IST
The thought of a leech latching itself onto your skin can freak the hell out of you. But what if you find a leech on your body? What do you do? Well, the first thing is to not panic. And secondly, try to remove it as quickly as possible. These little creatures that are found in soil, grasses and fresh water, do not usually spread any disease. So if you find a leech on your body, here's how to remove a leech. Also read about how to treat wounds (cut or scrape) at home?
How to remove a leech
1. Firstly, find the sucker end of the leech, it is the part of the leech where it attaches to the skin. Now, gently pull the skin near the sucker and slowly place the fingernail of the other hand underneath the sucker and flick it off quickly. There is a chance that it can try to reattach to the skin, do it as quickly as possible. If you are scared to do so and can stand it, then let the leech drop off on its own after feeding, which usually takes around 20 - 30 minutes.
2. When leech attaches to the skin, it injects an anticoagulant that prevents clotting of blood so that they can drink as much blood as needed to fill up. Hence, it can bleed for few minutes to days even after removal of a leech. If you are worried about the loss of blood, do consult your doctor.
3. Clean the area with an antiseptic agent and preferably keep the area dry. You can apply a bandage as it is an open wound and hence, at risk of infections. Applying a bandage can prevent it from getting infected.
4. You may not even know that a leech is latched onto your skin until you see it as you may not experience pain. This is because when leeches sink their teeth onto the skin, they inject an anaesthetic into the skin, which causes the bites to be painless. Hence, if you find one, then check your entire body as you may find more.
5. If a leech gets into your eyes, nostrils or ears (which commonly happens when swimming), then it's wise to consult a doctor (ENT) immediately.
Also read about what to do if a dog bites or scratches you: First aid and treatment.
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