Oral myiasis: does an indication for surgical treatment still exist? Two case reports

Abstract

Oral myiasis is a rare infection for which treatment protocol has not yet been established. This article presents 2 cases treated with a combination of topical application of sulfuric ether and surgery. The reasons for the use of surgical therapy, as well as the possible advantages and disadvantages of drug-based treatments, are discussed. Two cases of oral myiasis are described, the first being observed in a 9-year-old child with hypotonic cerebral palsy, and the second in a 52-year-old adult, alcohol-dependent, both showing infection in the gingival sulcus. Both cases were successfully treated in a process that involved topical application of sulfuric ether, mechanical removal of larvae, and surgical debridement. Oral myiasis can be treated effectively with surgery after topical application of sulfuric ether. The use of drugs may suggest a therapeutic alternative, but still requires further study and experience to be implemented, especially in individuals with neurological disorders.