The leech is an undesirable insect. It has the appearance of a small worm, just a couple of centimeters but can reach three or four when stretched in search of prey. Knowing how to remove a leech from your skin will help prevent infection.
Avoid Being Bitten
In general, the home of leeches is in the water. To avoid being attacked by leeches, avoid entering waters that may contain leeches. In certain parts of the world, leeches are based on the earth and will still attack you if you stay out of the water. It is essential that you wear long sleeves and always keep anti leech [ยากันทาก which is the term in Thai] around you. This will help you avoid being bitten in the first place, but it does not guarantee that you will not be attacked.
Don’t Panic
Leech bites are nothing to worry about since leeches generally do not transmit disease. The biggest danger you can have with a leech is if you lose your temper and try to do something like getting them out of your body in a hurry, or trying to burn them with a cigarette. While the leech can come off when pressed with a cigarette, the sudden hard temperature will make the leech regurgitate. This will introduce material into your blood that can poison you and make you sick. The worst thing you see with a leech bite is a wound that will bleed profusely. This is because the leech uses an anticoagulant in the wound that they create to be able to feed until they fill and fall.
Work Quickly
If you feel you need to remove the leech, hold it tightly between two fingers near the oral suction cup. This is found at the narrow end of the leech. Make sure you don’t grab from the middle of the leech since you can bust it. With your finger, lift gently to expose the suction cup on the wound. Use your other nail to remove the suction cup with a side thrust. Once the oral suction cup is removed, quickly tap sideways on the back of the leech to prevent it from rejoining.
Treating The Wound
Because the wound will bleed a lot, it is a good idea to treat the wound with a blood clot and cover it with a band-aid. You may need to change the band-aid frequently because the injury will continue to bleed even after the leech is gone. Use antibacterial ointment to prevent any infection.
