Stream fright: Chiang Mai tot gets unwelcome leech up her nose (2025)

A hospital in Chiang Mai issued a warning to the public to exercise caution when using water from natural sources after a three year old girl was found to have a leech in her nose because she washed her face in a stream.

The case was shared by a doctor from Nakhonping Hospital in Mueang District, Chiang Mai, via the hospital’s Facebook page yesterday, April 7. According to the post, the girl was transferred from Omkoi Hospital in the Omkoi District.

The girl’s family told doctors that she had been experiencing continuous bleeding from her right nostril for four days. Although they initially took her to the hospital immediately, the medical team there was unable to determine the cause of the bleeding. As a result, she was referred to Nakhonping Hospital.

Based on information provided by the family, the girl had recently visited a stream and washed her face with water from it. This led the attending doctor to suspect that bacteria or a foreign object from the stream could be responsible for the symptoms.

The doctor then conducted a thorough examination of the nasal cavity and eventually discovered a leech lodged inside. The leech attached itself firmly and required a specialised tool to extract it.

The hospital shared a video of the procedure, showing the doctor removing the leech, which was about three centimetres long. The doctor can be heard noting that the leech appeared stuffed after feeding on the girl’s blood for four days.

The leech was successfully removed, and no further bleeding occurred. However, the girl was prescribed disinfectant medication as a precaution.

In the Facebook post, the hospital clarified that while finding a leech in the nasal cavity is rare, it is possible, particularly for ones who use water from natural sources without adequate filtration or sterilisation.

The hospital advised anyone experiencing similar symptoms to seek professional medical treatment rather than attempting to remove the organism themselves. They warned that removing such foreign bodies without proper tools or expertise could result in significant blood loss or other injuries.

The hospital also recommended that the public avoid washing their faces, brushing their teeth, or drinking directly from natural water sources. People were also urged to monitor their health after swimming in such environments.

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