Traumatic Myiasis of the Scalp in a 3-year-old Patient- A Case of Neglected Health Care

ABSTRACT

@#Traumatic myiasis, the invasion of live tissues by fly larvae, is a commonly observed phenomenon in animals like sheep and cattle, but is also witnessed sometimes among humans. It is a parasitic infestation in which the dipteran larvae invade the neglected open wounds and foul smelling body apertures of vertebrate animals thereby using the living or necrotic tissue of their host as a nutritional source. A case of severe human traumatic myiasis is reported from India in the scalp wound of a 3-year-old female patient. The causative larvae were identified as the third instars of Old World Screwworm Fly- Chrysomya bezziana (Diptera Calliphoridae). The myiasis in the present case was a complication of an open neglected wound. Ignorance played a key role in non-treatment of the patient for a long period of time. The authors emphasize the necessity to raise awareness among the general public about the problem.