Treatment of cavitary myiasis in the face: a case report

Rubem Costa Araújo,Maria Aparecida De Albuquerque Cavalcante,Wagner Hespanhol

doi:10.15448/1980-6523.2017.2.26672

Rubem Costa Araújo, Maria Aparecida De Albuquerque Cavalcante + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-6523.2017.2.26672

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The word “myiasis” is derived from the Greek myio (fly) and ase (disease), and describes the infestation of humans and vertebrate animals by the larvae of flies, which feed on healthy or dead tissues of the host. The diagnosis is clinical, based on the presence of worms, and its treatment consists of the total removal of these larvae. The authors report a case of surgical debridement as a safe alternative for the treatment of cavitary myiasis in the face.CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient, a 58-year-old male, was admitted with a cavitary lesion on the face of the right side containing fly larvae. Surgical debridement was performed in two phases, with no use of drugs or less invasive maneuvers. Total remission of the condition was achieved, but the patient died due to a squamous cell carcinoma in the posterior region of the tongue and oropharynx, a month and a half after beginning oncologic treatment.CONCLUSION: The use of antiparasitic medication is controversial in the literature, as in specific situations this may put the patient’s life at risk. Prevention is still the best way to combat an infestation by myiasis. The authors report a case of myiasis cavitation in the face using only surgical debridement as treatment.

Highlights

CONCLUSIONThe use of antiparasitic medication is controversial in the literature, as in specific situations this may put the patient’s life at risk
The word “myiasis” is derived from the Greek myio and ase, and describes the infestation in humans and vertebrate animals by fly larvae, which feed on healthy or dead tissues of the host [1]
Other predisposing factors are reported in the literature, including psychiatric disease, hospital infection, drug addiction, mouth breathing, lip incompetence, senility, alcoholism, mental retardation, facial trauma and carcinoma [3,4,5]

Summary

CONCLUSION

The use of antiparasitic medication is controversial in the literature, as in specific situations this may put the patient’s life at risk. The authors report a case of myiasis cavitation in the face using only surgical debridement as treatment. Os autores relatam um caso de desbridamento cirúrgico como opção segura para o tratamento de miíase cavitária em face. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Paciente, 58 anos, sexo masculino, foi admitido com lesão cavitária em face do lado direito contendo larvas de mosca. Foi realizado desbridamento cirúrgico em duas fases, sem associação de medicamentos ou manobras menos invasivas, com a remissão total do quadro, no entanto o paciente faleceu após um mês e meio do início do tratamento oncológico devido a um carcinoma de células escamosas na região posterior de língua e orofaringe. Prevenção ainda é a melhor maneira de combater a infestação por miíase. Os autores relataram um caso de miíase cavitária em face utilizando somente o desbridamento cirúrgico como tratamento. Rev Odonto Cienc 2017;32(2):111114 Treatment of cavitary myiasis | Araújo et al

Findings

INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION