Nasal Myiasis

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nasal myiasis is very distressing condition of the nose that occurs among patients with atrophic rhinitis. This condition is frequently found among those belonging to the lower socioeconomic status suffering from bad nasal hygienic conditions. A retrospective study was done of 58 cases of patients admitted for nasal myiasis. All the patients belonged to the lower socio- economic class and suffered from poor hygienic condition. The majority of the patients were over the age of 60 years and male female ratio was 1 1.5 .The primary complaints of this condition were epistaxis, foul smelling nasal discharge, passage of worms from the nose and pain. The majority of the patients were suffering from primary atrophic rhinitis and a few from the secondary atrophic rhinitis due to syphilis and leprosy. TREATMENT As a first step of treatment, the maggots were removed manually and endoscopically. All the patients became maggot free in 2-3 days time. Alkaline nasal douching was then started along with 25% glucose in glycerine nasal drop. Complications such as septal perforation, saddling nose, palatal perforation were observed in a few cases. The incomplete closure of nose (modified Young's operation) was performed in a few cases. CONCLUSION: Manual and endoscopic removal should be done repeatedly. Antimeningitis prophylaxis should be started at once. And, to prevent recurrence, mosquito net should be used while sleeping, and incomplete closure of both the nasal cavity (modified Young's operation) should be carried out.