INTESTINAL MYIASIS (MAGGOT INFESTATION OF INTESTINES)

Authors

  • Noor Ahmad Noor

Abstract

Infection with maggots or fly larva are seen all over the world and results frominvasion of tissues and organs by the larvae of various species of flies like Musca,Fannia, Chrysinia and Calliphora.Myiasis can involve skin, eyes, connective tissues, nasopharynx, intestines andurethra. Intestinal myiasis, a rare clinical entity results from ingestion of foodcontaminated with the eggs or larvae of flies, some of which survive passage throughthe stomach and later mature in the intestines before they are passed in the stools.Intestinal myiasis, sometimes results from deposition of larvae by the flies round theanus of the patient and such larvae may crawl into the rectum to complete their feedinginside the body. Children are particularly vulnerable to myiasis due to their out-doorexposure or ingestion of fly contaminated food.Published reports about intestinal myiasis from this part of the world are scantybecause unless maggots are seen by the physician himself diagnosis cannot be made.During the last five years two well documented cases of this condition were diagnosedand treated by the author, the summary of these is as under:

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