On 15/6, an 8-year-old boy was admitted to Quang Ngai Provincial Hospital of Obstetrics and Pediatrics due to difficulty breathing, persistent coughing, and hoarseness. An airway endoscopy revealed an unusual foreign object deep within his trachea. Doctors promptly ordered emergency endoscopy for removal.

Doctors remove a leech over 12 cm from the airway of an 8-year-old child. *Photo: Quang Ngai Provincial Hospital of Obstetrics and Pediatrics*

During the bronchial endoscopy, the medical team discovered a live leech, over 12 cm long, attached to the carina – the junction where the trachea splits into the left and right bronchi. Endoscopic images showed the leech actively moving and contracting within the boy's airway. Doctors successfully located and removed the creature.

Dr. Huynh Duy Tham, Head of the Pediatric Respiratory Department, highlighted the extreme danger posed by such an airway foreign body. He explained that if not detected and treated quickly, the leech could continue to feed, grow, and obstruct the airway, leading to severe respiratory failure or even death.

Family members reported that before the onset of symptoms, the boy had bathed in and consumed water from a stream. Doctors concluded this was the likely route for the leech to enter his body and attach itself to his respiratory tract.

Medical professionals advise parents to seek immediate medical attention for children exhibiting symptoms such as prolonged coughing, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, or a sensation of something lodged in the throat. This is especially crucial after children have bathed in streams or used water from ponds, lakes, or springs.

Pham Linh