A Case of an Unusual Presentation of Hemoptysis: Oropharyngeal Leech.

We report a case of a 36-year-old male who presented with a complaint of blood-stained sputum for 15 days. The patient gave a history of drinking from a contaminated pool. On examination, there were blood streaks on the posterior pharyngeal wall. The patient's vital and baseline blood investigations were within normal limits. On direct laryngoscopy under general anesthesia, a greenish-black foreign body was found moving in the oropharynx and was taken out by heated Magill forceps. It was identified as a leech. Through this case, we emphasize the need for well-set diagnostic criteria that can not only enhance the reporting of such cases but can also be used as a surveillance tool by the public health authorities.