Abstract

MELENDEZ, Héctor Julio et al. Acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to sinus and tracheopulmonary myiasis. Infect. [online]. 2012, vol.16, n.2, pp.132-135. ISSN 0123-9392.

Myiasis is a disease caused by the infestation of larvae in dead or living tissue. It is classified entomologically or according to tropism of the tissues. We report a case of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to sinus and tracheopulmonary myiasis in a 65-year-old man who entered the service with epistaxis and nasal obstruction sensation. He was diagnosis with a hypertensive crisis, and symptomatic management and nasal plugging were performed. The patient was readmitted 24 hours later with right hemifacial edema, bradylalia and breathing difficulty. The nasal plug was removed and larvae came out. He was referred to a tertiary level care facility where he was assessed by otolaryngology and they decided to check the airways under general anesthesia to remove the blockage caused by a massive infestation of larvae. The patient was transferred to the ICU where he was diagnosed with ARDS, and managed with ivermectin and antibiotics. Subsequently, a satisfactory evolution, despite the severity of symptoms, was attained. We report a case of ARDS secondary to sinus and trachoepulmonary myiasis, the first case reported in Latin America. We highlight the satisfactory evolution after medical symptomatic and specific management, despite the high mortality of this disease.

Keywords : myiasis; tracheopulmonary myiasis; myiasis treatment.

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