Cutaneous myiasis in Arkansas

Myiasis is a rare infestation of any part of the body by larvae of Diptera. Cutaneous myiasis, the most common form seen in tropical climates of Central America, South America and Africa, are extremely rare in the United States. An extraordinary case of cutaneous myiasis was seen in Hot Springs in a 71-year-old healthy white male upon his return from the rain forest of Costa Rica. Manual extraction of one of the larvae by the patient and surgical excision of three other separate subcutaneous larvae were diagnostic and therapeutic in this case.