Myiasis: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Myiasis is a skin condition that is caused due to fly larva (maggots). The fly larvae feeds on the skin and tissue of humans and animals and spreads the infection throughout the body. Boil-like lesions appear on the skin, which can be painful and itchy. In humans, the disease is caused by the human botfly and the tumbu fly. Myiasis is primarily caused in tropical and sub-tropical regions in the world.

People living in unsanitary and unhygienic conditions are at a greater risk of contracting the disease. Elderly people are also at risk from the same, while people with mental disabilities may also have a higher chance of suffering from Myiasis.

The signs and symptoms associated with the disease depends on the part of the body where the infection has occurred. Doctors will be able to diagnose the condition by simply testing the infected region and screening for the larvae in the sample.

The only way to treat the disorder is to remove the larvae from the infected region. However, the form of treatment is simple and almost always successful. Surgery is the preferred method for the removal of the larvae and medications may not be involved in the entire treatment procedure.

Myiasis is classified depending on the region of infection. However, it is also classified on the basis of relationship between the host and the parasites. While Myiasis can infect people irrespective of age, sex, race, community or race, elderly people are more likely to contract the disease. Other risk factors include alcoholism, diabetes, mental instability, vascular diseases and unhygienic conditions.

A person may get infected through various means. For instance, the eggs of the larvae may get attached to the underside of mosquitoes, which may then be transferred into the body when the mosquito bites the person. Similarly, the eggs can enter the body through an open wound or lesion. Lastly, the same larvae may enter the body through food contamination.

Typically, surgery is performed to remove a severe infection. In some cases suffocative procedure is followed where the parasite are made to suffocate. Doctors use a petroleum jelly and other gel like substances to cover the region of infection. Parasites that die through this process will pass out of the body on their own volition.

Medications may also be prescribed for some cases of myiasis. Ivermectin is a drug that is often used to treat the condition. However, in most cases, surgery is the best possible way to remove the parasites from the body.

People may suffer from the fever, facial edema, painful ulcers, hearing disturbances, buzzing noises, irritation in the eye depending on the region of infection. However, general symptoms for the condition include vision problems, vomiting, diarrhea and painful boil-like lesions on the body. People suffering from these symptoms should visit the doctor and have the infection tested to diagnose and begin treatment for Myiasis.

If the testing does not show a positive result for the parasites linked to the disease, any skin related abnormalities may be caused by a different issue altogether. In such a case, visit a doctor and consult on the best course of action. However, Myiasis is not detected the patient should not be treated for the same. Furthermore, even if the disease is detected, the doctor may disqualify a patient for a particular form of treatment on the basis of complications that may result from said treatment.

In case of treatment where surgery is used to remove the parasites, the side effects are rare if any. People who leave the wound unattended may undergo infection of another kind. However, in most cases patients recover without any additional issues.

People treated through medications such as Ivermectin, however, may undergo chronic side effects from the drug. This may include blurred or improper vision, weakness, confusion, convulsions, eye redness, and/or urinary problems. Less severe side effects include dizziness, skin rash, diarrhea, swelling of hands and feet.

If you experience any of these problems, make sure that you visit the doctor and report the effects immediately. Your physician will likely change the medication.

Myiasis is primarily caused due to unsanitary living conditions. People who have treatment for the condition should ensure that they keep their hose and surroundings clean. This will limit the chances of the parasite breeding and will also prevent the infection from the disease.

Furthermore, people should avoid eating at unsanitary conditions and foods that are kept open.

Recovery for myiasis depends on where the infection occurred. However, in most cases, it takes anywhere between a month or two at the most for people to recover from the infection.

The price of the treatment depends on many factors. However, in India, a Myiasis treatment may range from Rs. 500 to Rs. 5,000, depending on whether medications are used or surgery is performed to treat the disease.

Results are permanent in most cases and the doctor may keep an eye to ensure that all of the parasites have been removed. However a person who recovered from the condition may get infected again in the future, which is why he/she should take proper precautions against the disease.

Some people use organic and natural remedies against the infection. For instance, camphor is pound into a fine powder. This powder is then mixed with neem oil and made into a paste. Patients can apply this paste on the infected region, which causes the parasites to move out of the body.