Attack of the Killer Leech

[Lindsay]

Normally leech bites don't bother me. After a short day walk yesterday along the Lane Cove river section of the Great North Walk, I removed a leech from my ankle. No drama I thought, however today my foot is swollen like a football and ferociously itchy and stinging. Are urban leeches more vicious than their bush counterparts?

[puredingo]

Yeah, you got done by one of those upwardly mobile, success hungary city leeches. Far more ferocious in nature to their laid back country cousins. The city leech wants it all and doesn't care who he takes down in the process such is his lust for power and dominance whereas the country leech is all like, "hmmm whatever..."

[ILUVSWTAS]

If you remove the leech incorrectly, it can lead to a slight infection. Hence the swelling and itchiness.

[wayno]

i thought putting salt on them makes them let go (rural and urban varieties)

[phan_TOM]

I remember hearing that putting salt on leeches is a bad idea as it is a severe shock to them (ie fatal) and they can regurgitate their contents back into you before dropping off, including the various species of bacteria etc. Putting salt on them increases your chance of a reaction, makes sense really, so I just pull them off roll 'em around a bit and flick them back to where they came from.

As for the original post I think it's a bit of a lottery sometimes, I usually don't react too badly to leeches or ticks but occasionally get a 'bad one'.

[wayno]

thats what wikipedia says as well

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leech

[Tortoise]

If you remove the leech incorrectly, it can lead to a slight infection. Hence the swelling and itchiness.

Though that wouldn't explain the football size swelling - I'm a bit concerned about that.

It is possible to become sensitised to the anticoagulant leeches secrete, so I reckon it'd be worth having antihistamines on hand if you can take them, and checking it out with your doctor.

Anaphylaxis in the bush is a very bad thing, especially if you don't have an EpiPen on hand. The swelling being local is much better than swelling elsewhere as well, but it sounds like a pretty significant reaction you had, and a change from past experience. The difference could be in you rather than the leech.

All the best

[puredingo]

Only salt your leeches if you plan on preserving them for later consumption on your hike. Otherwise one quick, firm flick should see the little blighter sailing off into great unknown.

[Lindsay]

If you remove the leech incorrectly, it can lead to a slight infection. Hence the swelling and itchiness.

Though that wouldn't explain the football size swelling - I'm a bit concerned about that.

It is possible to become sensitised to the anticoagulant leeches secrete, so I reckon it'd be worth having antihistamines on hand if you can take them, and checking it out with your doctor.

Anaphylaxis in the bush is a very bad thing, especially if you don't have an EpiPen on hand. The swelling being local is much better than swelling elsewhere as well, but it sounds like a pretty significant reaction you had, and a change from past experience. The difference could be in you rather than the leech.

All the best

I scraped the leech off on the normal way, and all seemed good until the following morning when I found my foot to be very swollen. I have taken antihistamines however it is still noticeably swollen and if it has not reduced in the next few days I'll head to the doctor.

[Webguy]

Had the same reaction to a leach bite in a Canyon, that night it was swollen up so much, could not walk, let alone drive, so headed to hospital. They gave me non-inflammatory drugs and all was good a few days later.

[vagrom]

Yeah, you got done by one of those upwardly mobile, success hungary city leeches.

For the upwardly mobile ones, perhaps a little pesto?

[puredingo]

I ran into that Leech while i was in the elevator i asked him to come to the club so he could see my new business cards but he mumbled something about having to return some videos....

[corvus]

An interesting time to get multiple Leech bites is when you are on Blood thinning medication,I got around 15 bites from miniscule ones a month into this medication and you would swear that I had been shot in the legs with a 410
Needed to apply improvised band aid treatment, TP and paper tape to all bleeding areas which worked , on the return walk I ensured that I had plenty of 80% Deet Bushman on my legs corvus

[Tortoise]

I've been wondering about leeches and blood thinners, corvus! Good to hear it's not held you back.

[wayno]

fish oil is a less extreme blood thinner..

[juxtaposer]

Walking up a steep ridge out of Lacys Creek onto Bimlow Tableland years ago, I noticed one of the strongest members of our party, by name Andy, lagging rather badly. There wasn't any pace on, it was just steep slogging, and when we got on top of the cliffs he was very off colour and listless. He pulled a sock down to find, on his lower ankle, as fat a leech as you could ever expect to see. It'd probably been on him for up to a couple of hours. He was fine the next day but it showed, I think, that they can make you sick and effect your performance.

[wayno]

dont they have an anaesthetic? that could have an effect on performance..

[juxtaposer]

It's probably something like that, Wayno. On prevention: I did some traverses in that stunning rainforest country north of the Daintree River. Around the coast itself I never encountered a leech, but at a certain point up the mountain, in the cloud zone about two-thirds the way up or so, we'd hit what we called the leech belt where, if the forest was wet, as it usually was, you'd pick up leeches left, right and centre, a much smaller species than the one Andy copped, but lots of them. We would then make a lather out of soap and smear it on our shoes, socks, ankles and forearms, and we wouldn't be bothered by them thereafter. It would wear off before long, but by then we'd be on top of the range where there generally didn't seem to be so many.

[corvus]

fish oil is a less extreme blood thinner..

Doubt that my Cardiologist or GP would agree with that but thanks for the suggestion
corvus

[wildwalks]

Yeah Ticks and Leaches fun stuff hey.
The swelling sounds more like an infection - very much worth seeing the Dr before it gets worse.

I have had been treated for cellulitis from tick bites 3 times - twice was a pretty easy courses for antibiotics but once required some heavier duty stuff.

Although a different animal I had one of my staff end up in hospital for 3 days due to an infection from a tick bite (not a reaction to the tick itself)

There is very little research on leaches and the best way to remove them. It seems that most Australian leaches do not have teeth but suck to attach. By scrapping your finger nail between your skin and the leech you can break the seal and flick the leech away. If they are not yet attached then just flicking will also work. Then wash the area. Theory is that the leechy will not vomit into the wound this way. But it is not backed up by research.

A good insect repellent does reduce the rate them attaching.

Matt

[Webguy]

Went for a walk in the Warrimoo area on Friday arvo/night, managed to get a couple of leach bites and a small tick burrowed in. Usual result, though not quite as spectacular as years ago.

Some great scenery down in the valleys in the cripple creek areas, not quite Kanangra levels, but pretty and quite a few large coachwoods growing down there as well. More exploring needed to do some more looking around.