Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Removing a leech
• Part 2 of 3: Dealing with stubborn leeches
• Part 3 of 3: Keeping the leeches off the body
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Leeches live in moist undergrowth and grasses, as well as freshwater areas. They attach to warm-blooded animals, including humans, and can grow 10 times their normal size when they fill with blood. If you have a leech on your body, don't panic as they don't spread disease or cause pain. If you can tolerate the thought of the leech filling with blood then it will release itself after about 20 minutes, but you can also remove the little plunger with nothing but your fingernail.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Removing a leech

1. Locate the head and suction cups. The head is the narrower part of the leech and the suction cups with which it attaches to the skin. If the leech is on your arms, legs, torso, or some other easily accessible place, you should be able to easily remove the animal yourself. Otherwise, you will have to ask someone else to remove the leech.
   • If you find a leech, check the rest of your body to see if there are any more. Leeches inject an anesthetic into your skin when they put their teeth into you, so their bites are painless. You may not notice the presence of other leeches elsewhere on your body.
   • Remember, leeches aren't poisonous and don't carry disease, so don't panic when you find one. Leeches are usually quite easy to remove and do not cause permanent damage.
2. Slide a fingernail under the leech. Use one hand to gently stretch the skin near the leech, then place your other hand next to the leech and slide one of your nails under the animal. The leech will immediately try to reattach, so detach it right away.
   • Do not tear the leech off your skin, as this will keep the suction cups attached to your body.
   • If you are reluctant to remove the leech with your fingernail, you can also use the edge of a credit card, a sturdy piece of paper, or some other thin object.
3. Treat the open wound. When leeches suck on, they inject an anticoagulant to prevent the blood from clotting before they have been able to suck themselves full. When you remove a leech, bleeding can continue for several hours or even days before the anticoagulant has left your system. Be prepared for profuse bleeding when you remove the leech. Clean the open wound with alcohol or another cleaning agent from the first aid kit, then apply a bandage or bandage to protect the wound.
   • Since the bleeding can continue for a while, you will need to change the dressing regularly in the meantime.
   • It is important to treat the area like an open wound, especially if you are walking around in a jungle. Open wounds are more prone to inflammation in jungle environments.
   • You can expect the wound to itch as it heals.
4. Consider letting the leeches fill until they fall off on their own. If you can take them, waiting for them to fall off on their own is an easy way to get rid of a leech. It takes about 20 minutes for a leech to fill up, and when it's done, the bug will fall off your skin. Leeches don't draw enough blood to worry about the blood loss, and since they don't spread disease, there's no harm in dropping them without intervening.
   • Phlebotomy (feeding leeches with human blood for medical purposes) has been done for thousands of years, and "leech therapy" remains medically important. The FDA has approved the use of leeches to help with circulatory problems and to help reattach skin tissue.
5. Do not dispose of leeches in any other way. You may have heard that you can get rid of a leech by drenching them in salt, burning them, spraying them with insect repellent, or drowning them in shampoo. While these techniques can cause the leech to loosen its grip and fall off the skin, it will not do so until it vomits into the wound. This can lead to serious infections, so stick to the healthier methods, such as using a fingernail or a thin object to move it under the leech.

Part 2 of 3: Dealing with stubborn leeches

1. See how deep the leech has settled. Sometimes leeches make their way into body orifices, such as the nostrils, ears, and mouth. This is especially common when swimming in between the leeches. When this happens, it can be difficult to reach the leech and it is best to use the simple removal method. Do your best to remove it the easy way before trying alternative methods.
   • Ask if someone can help you shove something under the leech. Be very careful not to poke yourself. Do not use this method if you cannot see the leech.
   • You can try to let the leech run its course until it detaches, but if it's in a small space, it may get too big and cause problems.
2. Use alcohol if it is in your mouth. If the leech has attached itself to the inside of your mouth, it is possible to detach it by rinsing your mouth with vodka or another strong drink. Swish it in your mouth for about 30 seconds and then spit it out. Check if the leech has disappeared.
   • If you don't have alcohol on hand, hydrogen peroxide can also work.
   • If the leech is still there after you spit, and won't come off on its own, then you need medical attention.
3. Puncture the leech if it gets too big. If you are in a remote area and don't have immediate access to a doctor, you may need to puncture the leech. Hopefully you managed to get it out using a different method, but if it's in a really tricky place, like a nostril, you may need to pierce the leech before your breathing is obstructed. To do this, take a sharp knife and simply pierce the skin. This won't be a pleasant sight, but the leech will die and it will be easier to get to the suction cups.
   • Remove the leech and wash the area immediately.
   • If signs of infection develop, seek immediate medical attention.
4. If the bug cannot be removed, seek medical attention. If you have a leech high up in your nostril, in your ear canal or in another place that is impossible to reach, have it removed by an art. The doctor may use instruments to remove the leech without hurting you.
5. Get immediate treatment if there is any indication that you are allergic to leeches. It's not very common for someone to be allergic to leeches, but it does happen. If you find yourself feeling dizzy, developing a rash, short of breath, or experiencing swelling, take an antihistamine (such as Benadryl) and seek medical attention right away.

Part 3 of 3: Keeping the leeches off the body

1. Be on the lookout when in areas where you can expect leeches. Land leeches are common in the jungles of Africa and Asia, and are also found in freshwater lakes and ponds around the world. If you're planning a trip to a place known for leeches, bring the right supplies with you to minimize the chance of getting bitten.
   • Land leeches can be found in muddy and green areas in the jungle. If you stay in one place long enough, they will crawl up to you. Try to avoid touching trees and plants, and check yourself often for leeches.
   • Water leeches are attracted to movement, so splashing and swimming in water increases the risk.
2. Wear long sleeves and pants. Leeches are attracted to the bare skin of warm-blooded animals.Wearing long sleeves and long pants will protect you from bites, although you will likely find them trying to get through the fabric. If you are very concerned about getting bitten, wear gloves and a hat so that none of your skin is visible.
   • Wear closed shoes instead of sandals.
   • If you've planned a jungle expedition, the investment in a pair of leech-proof socks is well worth it.
3. Use an insect repellent. While success is not assured in terms of avoiding leeches, it will prevent them from pouncing on you. Spray your skin and clothes with a standard insect repellent and reapply every few hours if you are in an area with a lot of leeches. Here are a few tricks you can use to get rid of them:
   • Put loose tobacco leaves in your socks. Leeches are said to dislike the smell.
   • Rub soap or cleanser on your hands and clothes.

Tips

• To prevent leeches from attaching, wear closed shoes and higher socks. Also, applying an insect repellent to your body will prevent them from "smelling" you, so they will be less likely to cling to you.
• Leeches die when you cover them with salt or roll them up tightly in a cloth. The salt and dry environment of the tissues sucks the moisture out of the leeches, causing them to shrivel.
• Check your feet and legs or any other part of your body that may have entered leech habitat so that you notice them before they have sucked in too much blood.
• If you happen to stumble across a dining leech, try to remember it's just a helpless creature in need of a meal.
• As soon as you hear that there are leeches in your area, immediately start spreading salt in your garden and remove all plants from your house to the edge of your yard. If you have been bitten by a leech, take plenty of baths with magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt). Sprinkling ticks with lime can separate them from the animals they are attached to, so the same can be true for other parasites such as leeches. Do not forget to fast regularly, sprinkle the fields with salt every season to stop parasites, collect the garden waste and put it somewhere dry, etc.

Warnings

• Leeches also attach to small pets such as dogs and cats. small animals can also get a leech in their eyes. If this happens, DO NOT pull or rub the leech off. Don't sprinkle salt on it. Wait for it to fall off on its own. The animal's eye may be swollen for a day or two, but otherwise nothing should be wrong. If not, see a vet.
• Do not tug or pull on the leech.
• Do not use shampoo, salt, or insect repellent on the leech while it is attached to your body, as the leech may vomit into the open skin and cause infection.
• If you suffer from many leeches that are also very large, see a doctor.

Necessities

• Nail, credit card, piece of paper, or anything thin and stiff
• Paper towel
• Insect repellent
• Closed shoes and socks