Live Leech Removed from Patient’s Throat at IGMC Shimla
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Shimla, January 31, 2026: Doctors at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital Shimla successfully treated a rare and potentially life-threatening case by removing a live leech from the throat of a 55-year-old patient from Sirmaur district.
The patient had been experiencing throat discomfort and voice changes for nearly 15 days. During initial examination at a health unit in Solan, a moving dark object was noticed in his throat, prompting immediate referral to IGMC Shimla.
An emergency foreign body removal procedure was carried out by the ENT and pulmonary medicine team, who safely extracted the live leech. Doctors said timely intervention prevented serious complications and could have saved the patient’s life.
The patient is now in stable condition. Medical experts have advised people, especially in rural areas, to be cautious while using natural water sources to avoid such rare infections.
