Abstract

DE LA OSSA, Napoleón et al. Cutaneous myiasis by Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Díptera Calliphoridae) in Hospital Universidad del Norte, Soledad, Atlántico. Biomédica [online]. 2009, vol.29, n.1, pp.12-17. ISSN 0120-4157.

Human myiasis is the parasitism of human tissues by fly larvae. Diagnoses are based on clinical pattern of tissue damage and presence of insect stages. Herein, a case myiasis is described in a seven-year-old female child.  She presented with fever associated with abscessed scalp lesions containing exposed larvae. Severe pediculosis was also observed. The patient was hospitalized and treated with clindamycin, gentamicin (for bacterial secondary infections) and ivermectin (treatment for lice) after which the patient showed clinical improvement and was discharged four days later. Since human myiasis can be caused by a number of different species, larvae were collected from the patient and identified as those of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Because other cases of coinfestation of flies and lice are on record, health workers are to be alerted about the possible pediculosis-myasis risk..

Keywords : myiasis; screw worm infection; ivermectin; Colombia..

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