Oral Myiasis Caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax in a Disabled Person

• Main Authors: José Pereira Novo-Neto, Fabiano de Sant’Ana dos Santos, Ana Emília Farias Pontes, Fernando Salimon Ribeiro, Fábio Luiz Ferreira Scannavino, Alex Tadeu Martins
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2015-01-01
• Series: Case Reports in Pathology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/904658

Myiasis is a parasitic disease caused by developing maggots of fly species, which can infect humans. Patients with special needs, especially those with severe neuropsychomotor limitations, may have oral manifestations of this disease. Here, we present a clinical case in which a disabled person was affected by oral myiasis caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax. Maggots were found in two ulcerated lesions, a 2 cm diameter lesion in the maxilla and a 6 cm diameter lesion in the mandible. Forty-five maggots were removed during inspection, whereas 75 maggots were surgically removed under general anesthesia with nasotracheal intubation. Dipyrone, ivermectin, and clindamycin were prescribed, and the patient remained hospitalized for 3 days. Seven days after surgical intervention, no maggots were observed. Our study emphasizes that dentists must recognize the symptoms and behaviors of parasitic diseases that affect the oral cavity.