Een bloedzuiger als ongewone oorzaak van epistaxis

– The case is reported of a patient who after a trip to Indonesia returned to the Netherlands with epistaxis and a choking feeling in the nose. The causative organism appeared to be a leech, most probably of the species Dinobdella ferox. Although in tropical countries these infestations are not rare, their occurrence in the Netherlands has not been reported before. The behaviour of the leech, the symptoms of infestation, complications, and treatment are briefly described. The best prophylactic measure is to avoid swimming in lakes and creeks and drinking of their water without taking special precautions in those areas where leeches are indigenous.