Abstract
Oral myiasis is a rare pathology and is associated with poor oral hygiene, alcoholism, senility, suppurating lesions, and severe halitosis. It arises from invasion of body tissues or cavities of living animals by maggots or larvae of certain dipterian flies. It is mostly reported in developing countries and in the tropics. We hereby report a rare case of oral myiasis in a 70-year-old female with extensive necrotic oral lesion burrowing into the hard palate through which numerous live maggots (larvae) and seen emerging out and discuss the definition, etiology, predisposing factors, classification, and management of the same. Furthermore, the life cycle of the causative organism in the present case, that is, Chrysomya bezziana, has also been discussed.
Highlights
Myiasis is a term derived from the Greek word “myia,” meaning invasion of vital tissue of humans or other mammals by fly larvae [1]
Myiasis is caused by dipterous larvae that feed on the host dead or living tissues, liquid body substances, or ingested food
Myiasis frequently occurs in rural areas, infecting livestock, and in humans prevails in unhealthy individuals in third world countries [4]
Summary
Myiasis is a term derived from the Greek word “myia,” meaning invasion of vital tissue of humans or other mammals by fly larvae [1]. Myiasis is caused by dipterous larvae that feed on the host dead or living tissues, liquid body substances, or ingested food. Cases of oral myiasis have been reported to occur following dental extraction, nosocomial infection, in drug addicts, in psychiatric patients, and in conditions that are likely to cause prolonged mouth opening such as mouth breathing during sleep, senility, alcoholism, and mental retardation [4]. We present a case of oral myiasis caused by Chrysomya bezziana involving the anterior maxilla and mucosal surface of upper lip in a 70-year-old female followed by a review of the literature
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