Bitten
Have you ever been bitten by a leech. I recently got bit by not one but six!. Leeches are super blood suckers and I know that bloody well now:-). Ticks, fleas, bedbugs and leeches constitute the supreme four. Here are a few you-should-know facts about leech bites
1. You would never get to know when a leech bites. With mosquitos, bedbugs one can feel the pin pricking sensation. But the saliva of leech is a great anaesthetic which effectively numbs the skin.
2. It bleeds. It bleeds horrendously. My legs were covered with blood with absolutely no sensation. No pain, not even a itch.
3. Most leeches (atleast the ones found in Asia) curl their bodies after they bite and attach themselves by hooks. In 15 mins they swell up like balloons many times their body weight. They tenacious blood guzzlers only let go once they cant hold their own weight! Finally satiated, they simply drop off and digest. No need to feed for weeks now:-)
4. Dont panic if the blood flow doesnt stop or the wound does not clot. It wont! Leeches inject some enzymes in their bite which prevent blood from clotting. So the only sensible thing to do is stanch the flow of blood using bandages.
5. The itching starts after 1 day when the wounds begin to clot and skin becomes dry. Obviously dont scratch but hey.. easier said than done:-)
6. One should be careful while removing the leech. The recommended procedure is to scrap it gently with the finger nail at both its anterior and posterior mouths. After that flick it away. Any other revengeful means like 'I will burn you alive' by a lighter or throw salt on it is not advisable. Your leech might just regurgitate all the contents of its stomach back into your body, increasing the chances of an infection. So handle with care:-)
7. There is really no sure way of preventing leech bites while trekking through leech infested areas. But a prudent action could be to frequently keep glancing the legs for any yeeeeks creatures! And lastly.. always carry a first aid kit.
1. You would never get to know when a leech bites. With mosquitos, bedbugs one can feel the pin pricking sensation. But the saliva of leech is a great anaesthetic which effectively numbs the skin.
2. It bleeds. It bleeds horrendously. My legs were covered with blood with absolutely no sensation. No pain, not even a itch.
3. Most leeches (atleast the ones found in Asia) curl their bodies after they bite and attach themselves by hooks. In 15 mins they swell up like balloons many times their body weight. They tenacious blood guzzlers only let go once they cant hold their own weight! Finally satiated, they simply drop off and digest. No need to feed for weeks now:-)
4. Dont panic if the blood flow doesnt stop or the wound does not clot. It wont! Leeches inject some enzymes in their bite which prevent blood from clotting. So the only sensible thing to do is stanch the flow of blood using bandages.
5. The itching starts after 1 day when the wounds begin to clot and skin becomes dry. Obviously dont scratch but hey.. easier said than done:-)
6. One should be careful while removing the leech. The recommended procedure is to scrap it gently with the finger nail at both its anterior and posterior mouths. After that flick it away. Any other revengeful means like 'I will burn you alive' by a lighter or throw salt on it is not advisable. Your leech might just regurgitate all the contents of its stomach back into your body, increasing the chances of an infection. So handle with care:-)
7. There is really no sure way of preventing leech bites while trekking through leech infested areas. But a prudent action could be to frequently keep glancing the legs for any yeeeeks creatures! And lastly.. always carry a first aid kit.
Wishing everyone a leechless life!!
Here is my bandaged leg 24 hrs after they attacked!