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Myiasis in children: the Indian perspective
I Singh1, G Gathwala, S P Yadav
1Department of Otolaryngology, Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak, India.
Insights
Childhood myiasis, particularly aural and nasal, affects young children in rural areas. A simple chloroform and turpentine oil treatment effectively removed maggots within days without complications.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Parasitology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Myiasis, an infestation of fly larvae, poses a significant health concern, especially in pediatric populations.
- Understanding the epidemiology and clinical presentation of childhood myiasis is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and clinical features of childhood myiasis.
- To evaluate the efficacy of a specific treatment regimen for myiasis in children.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 94 pediatric myiasis cases over a six-year period.
- Data collection included patient demographics, affected body sites, presenting symptoms, and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- Children constituted 37.9% of all myiasis cases, with over 50% being under five years old and predominantly from rural backgrounds.
- Aural myiasis (86.16%) was most common, followed by nasal (11.7%) and ocular (2.12%). Peak incidence occurred from September to October.
- Common symptoms included passage of worms, discharge, pain, and epistaxis. Treatment with chloroform and turpentine oil followed by manual removal cleared maggots in 2-3 days with no complications.
Conclusions:
- Childhood myiasis is a notable issue, particularly affecting young rural children, with aural and nasal cavities being the most common sites.
- The applied treatment of chloroform and turpentine oil is a safe and effective method for managing pediatric myiasis, leading to rapid maggot clearance.
Abstract:
A retrospective analysis of 94 cases of childhood myiasis admitted over a 6-year period is presented. Children formed 37.9% of all cases of myiasis. More than 50% of the children were less than 5 years of age and most (96.8%) belonged to a rural background. Of the 94 cases, 81 (86.16%) were of aural, 11 (11.7%) of nasal and 2 (2.12%) of ocular myiasis. The peak incidence was seen from September to October. The main symptoms in aural myiasis were passage of worms (81.48%), discharge (44.44%) and pain (41.97%). In nasal myiasis epistaxis (100%), foul smell (100%) passage of worms (90.9%) and pain (72.72%) were the prime presenting symptoms. All patients were treated with chloroform and turpentine oil in the ratio 1:4 which was followed by manual removal of the maggots and were made maggot-free in 2-3 days. No complications were seen.