Had to come out of the BW three days early due to a badly infected toe from a leech bite on one of our guys. Took him to the hospital in Grand Marais. The doctor said this is not uncommon. He is on antibiotics and we are on our way home, but had some great walleye and smallmouth fishing while we were there.

Was it a leech or a bloodsucker?

Maiingan: "Was it a leech or a bloodsucker?"

Good question. I had to look bloodsucker up. We believe it was a leech. Thank you for raising the question.

I wonder if the leech carries the bacteria that infected your tripping partner, or if the wound, however small, inflicted by the leech allowed the introduction of bacteria into the wound.

I'm not expecting an answer, unless someone knows, just curious.

Mike

In our discussion amongst ourselves about this we believe that when he squeezed the leech in trying to remove it he probably squeezed stomach contents including bacteria into the wound.

This happened to me 3 years ago. But I believe it was from the weeping wound that was infected from something else. I now do all travel days in wool socks and fly-fishing wading boots. I've had leeches a couple times when they hide under my sandal straps.

How long did it take from the time the leech was pulled off till you decided it was bad enough to leave?

Years ago I thought it was just mud under the sandal strap. Turned out to be a leech. I made my husband scrape it off, only to find it left baby leeches behind! Thankfully it happened to me and not my teenage daughter (who wasn’t having a great time anyhow) and other than mild itching, no infection. I really don’t like them,

cyclones30: "How long did it take from the time the leech was pulled off till you decided it was bad enough to leave? "

I know you are asking the OP, but for me I had it the day prior to exit. On way home it started to ooze, wasn't healing. I was on antibiotics the next day.

A little off topic, but does anyone bring antibiotics like amoxicillin in their first aid kits? It might have been helpful in preventing or fighting the infection in this case.

merlyn: " A little off topic, but does anyone bring antibiotics like amoxicillin in their first aid kits? It might have been helpful in preventing or fighting the infection in this case."

I’m WFR so yes. Important to make sure that peeps finish their antibiotics if they start them!

Because of my CLL I carry a prescription of antibiotics. I haven’t used it yet, but it’s there if I need it. Nice to know about the leeches. No more sandals in the BWCA for me!

Carl

Maiingan: "Was it a leech or a bloodsucker?"

I'll show my ignorance, can someone explain the difference to me?

moosedoggie: "

Maiingan: "Was it a leech or a bloodsucker?"

I'll show my ignorance, can someone explain the difference to me?"

One size catches me dinner, the other size I’m the dinner.

cyclones30: "How long did it take from the time the leech was pulled off till you decided it was bad enough to leave? "

2 1/2 days

merlyn: " A little off topic, but does anyone bring antibiotics like amoxicillin in their first aid kits? It might have been helpful in preventing or fighting the infection in this case."

Due to having hip joint replacement surgery last December, I will be taking amoxicillin with me on all trips. My doctor, an infectious disease specialist, told me I will need to use it for any injuries where I bleed for 2 years post surgery. And I am a bit clumsy and often cut or scrape myself.

Regarding leeches, I have picked them up several times in Canada but never had an infection even though the wounds continued to bleed for awhile after removal. The Albany River seemed to have plenty of them, or at least I picked them up there more than anyplace else.

merlyn: " A little off topic, but does anyone bring antibiotics like amoxicillin in their first aid kits? It might have been helpful in preventing or fighting the infection in this case."

If I have any left from a previous prescription ( I usually forget to take the last couple days of a 10 or 14 day course) I will bring that. At least it’s a start if I need it.

I have tried to get my doctor to give me a prescription for the bw, but she is very reluctant to do so. I have also asked for a general pain killer that is stronger than advil but she definitely won’t do that either. Last year I had shoulder issues start mid trip. I used all the advil and aleve I had with me, and still was in pain.

moosedoggie: "

Maiingan: "Was it a leech or a bloodsucker?"

I'll show my ignorance, can someone explain the difference to me?"

Leeches prefer dead things and take a long time to bite a human that is living (think standing in the muck for 5 minutes without moving at all). Blood suckers love living things and will latch on in seconds when given the opportunity.

In my younger days I used to sell leaches wholesale. I sold thousands of pounds in the spring and summer.

Black leeches we use for fishing generally are not an issue for humans.
Then there are the long, slimy leaches that feel like a wet noodle, those are not an issue.

The leeches you should be concerned about were coined diamond backs. The female will hold a hundred tiny baby leeches on her belly and when she finds a host, they are all released through a chemical reaction. Soon you have 100 tiny leeches on you that only become visible after they start to suck blood. The diamond back leech releases an anti-coagulant to help the blood flow which is why sometimes you bleed profusely after pulling a leech of you.

The anticoagulant is full of bacteria. I never got sick from a leech bite and I don’t think it’s real common.

Tom

I have heard that you won’t get infection from the leach. But you definitely can get infection from the open store it can leave.
I have read that they still use leeches sometimes to clean the blood out of a bruise.
Any medical expert can weigh in on the subject.

RedLakePaddler: "Because of my CLL I carry a prescription of antibiotics. I haven’t used it yet, but it’s there if I need it. Nice to know about the leeches. No more sandals in the BWCA for me!


Carl"

one more time I can show I am not a nerd for wearing socks with sandals !!

LaVirginienne: "

merlyn: " A little off topic, but does anyone bring antibiotics like amoxicillin in their first aid kits? It might have been helpful in preventing or fighting the infection in this case."

I’m WFR so yes. Important to make sure that peeps finish their antibiotics if they start them! "

Just be sure the antibiotics people take are given specifically to them by a doctor to have and not something you brought for them. Being WFR I’m sure you are aware of legalities. Also, if your bringing odds and end antibiotics from past whatever you didn’t take, it’s best to consult your doctor about using them for whatever. They usually don’t have that long of a life to keep around.
Just saying be careful with prescription drugs of any kind that way...

As far as leeches and infections... sounds like the right call was made to get out and seek medical attention. This was a good thread to help us be aware of this possibility.

Interesting info so I did a little research. Apparently it is quite common for leeches to regurgitate some of their stomach contents when they get stressed (ex. when you salt them to remove them or grab them to pull off) and that can lead to a higher chance of infection. The best way to remove them is to either wait for them to finish feeding...really how many of us want to wait 30-40 minutes! Or quickly break the mouth seal with a clean stiff surface like a credit card so they don't have time to regurgitate. BTW, the term bloodsucker is not a specific animal, just a term for any animal that feeds off blood.

I had a super small leech on a finger when dealing with some flooded dock issues and flooded boat house up at Lake of the wood Rainy River this last week. Took several vigorous swipes with my finger to get the little thing off. I noticed it was puffed up the next day and almost had a small slice, I was surprised since it was such a small leech. It is healing up but did bug me a little bit for a few days but I didn’t do anything more specific for it. Probably didn’t help using worms for bait and frozen dead shiners last week either.

Doing a 14 day Quetico trip and we’re all going to get prescribed antibiotics and something for an allergic reaction to poison ivy, Only to be taken if something comes up. Like what this whole thread is about, Or a small cut that isn’t looking right or an abrasion. I’m allergic to multiple antibiotics so yeah it’s important to take what has been prescribed specifically for you!

Ryan

What about good old-fashioned Polysporin cream?

tumblehome: "In my younger days I used to sell leaches wholesale. I sold thousands of pounds in the spring and summer.


Black leeches we use for fishing generally are not an issue for humans.
Then there are the long, slimy leaches that feel like a wet noodle, those are not an issue.


The leeches you should be concerned about were coined diamond backs. The female will hold a hundred tiny baby leeches on her belly and when she finds a host, they are all released through a chemical reaction. Soon you have 100 tiny leeches on you that only become visible after they start to suck blood. The diamond back leech releases an anti-coagulant to help the blood flow which is why sometimes you bleed profusely after pulling a leech of you.


The anticoagulant is full of bacteria. I never got sick from a leech bite and I don’t think it’s real common.


Tom"

Yes! This!

I once found about five or six of these little squirmy things between my toes. Very small. Thanks for the answer to that mystery.

Mike

woodsandwater: "

Maiingan: "Was it a leech or a bloodsucker?"

Good question. I had to look bloodsucker up. We believe it was a leech. Thank you for raising the question."

Most bloodsuckers have red spots on top and I really think it was a bloodsucker.

THEGrandRapids: "

cyclones30: "How long did it take from the time the leech was pulled off till you decided it was bad enough to leave? "

I know you are asking the OP, but for me I had it the day prior to exit. On way home it started to ooze, wasn't healing. I was on antibiotics the next day. "

I believe bloodsuckers secrete a anti-coagulant so your blood keeps flowing to his ugly mouth.

after reading this thread I will never go in water in the BWCA without muck boots on

LaVirginienne: "

merlyn: " A little off topic, but does anyone bring antibiotics like amoxicillin in their first aid kits? It might have been helpful in preventing or fighting the infection in this case."

I’m WFR so yes. Important to make sure that peeps finish their antibiotics if they start them! "

Pardon my ignorance, but what is WFR?

Just think they once used and probably still do somewhere-attach leeches to humans to get rid of various illness.

AdamXChicago: "

LaVirginienne: "

merlyn: " A little off topic, but does anyone bring antibiotics like amoxicillin in their first aid kits? It might have been helpful in preventing or fighting the infection in this case."

I’m WFR so yes. Important to make sure that peeps finish their antibiotics if they start them! "

Pardon my ignorance, but what is WFR?"

Wilderness First Responder, I believe.

I've had this happen three times...one of the perks of picking agates and brook trout fishing in the river in just sandals and shorts.

The first infection right on the top of my foot, I didn't deal with right away, thinking it was just some sort of reaction and would go away. That one ended up causing nerve damage and left me with three tingly toes, nearly 10 years later they still tingle and feel fat.

Speckled: "I've had this happen three times...one of the perks of picking agates and brook trout fishing in the river in just sandals and shorts.


The first infection right on the top of my foot, I didn't deal with right away, thinking it was just some sort of reaction and would go away. That one ended up causing nerve damage and left me with three tingly toes, nearly 10 years later they still tingle and feel fat."

I think they are good for infections

photo from Leano Creek in the WCCP....last day of a trip/pulled lined up the last two rapids to avoid portages...2011

and yes we travel we antibiotics....

Savage Voyageur: "

moosedoggie: "

Maiingan: "Was it a leech or a bloodsucker?"

I'll show my ignorance, can someone explain the difference to me?"

One size catches me dinner, the other size I’m the dinner. "

One sleeps in a body of water and the other sleeps in a coffin!

Pinetree: "Just think they once used and probably still do somewhere-attach leeches to humans to get rid of various illness."

I worked in a hospital pharmacy that stocked them. They were used to maintain blood flow post reattachment of amputated fingers. They provide a potent but local anticoagulation.

RedLakePaddler: "Because of my CLL I carry a prescription of antibiotics. I haven’t used it yet, but it’s there if I need it. Nice to know about the leeches. No more sandals in the BWCA for me!


Carl"

What is CLL

LaVirginienne: "

merlyn: " A little off topic, but does anyone bring antibiotics like amoxicillin in their first aid kits? It might have been helpful in preventing or fighting the infection in this case."

I’m WFR so yes. Important to make sure that peeps finish their antibiotics if they start them! "

What is WFR

Basspro69: "

LaVirginienne: "

merlyn: " A little off topic, but does anyone bring antibiotics like amoxicillin in their first aid kits? It might have been helpful in preventing or fighting the infection in this case."

I’m WFR so yes. Important to make sure that peeps finish their antibiotics if they start them! "

What is WFR"

Wilderness First Responder

Basspro69: "

RedLakePaddler: "Because of my CLL I carry a prescription of antibiotics. I haven’t used it yet, but it’s there if I need it. Nice to know about the leeches. No more sandals in the BWCA for me!



Carl"

What is CLL"

A form of leukemia.

I too carry antibiotics due to hip joint replacement last December. I need to avoid infections for 2 years after my surgery.