Cutaneous myiasis presenting as chronic furunculosis--case report

Myiasis is the infection of tissue or organ of living humans or animals by the maggot or larval stages of flies. In Africa, the most common fly responsible for cutaneous myiasis is the tumbu fly, Cordylobia anthropophaga. We present two cases of cutaneous myiasis seen on the upper abdominal wall and anterior chest wall. Both were initially diagnosed as furuncle (common boil), but from high index of suspicion of myiasis, followed by application of petroleum jelly and palm oil to occlude the spiracle and the expulsion of larva stage of Cordylobia anthropophaga the diagnoses in both cases were confirmed.