Oral myiasis in a cerebral palsy patient: A case report

Myiasis is a rare condition caused by the invasion of tissues by the larvae of flies, mainly from the order of Diptera. Many cases of myiasis involving various human organs have been reported. Oral Myiasis is very rare in healthy persons. It occurs mainly in the tropics and is usually associated with inadequate personal and public hygiene; sometimes accompanied by poor manual dexterity. We present a case of oral myiasis in a mentally retarded, 13-year-old boy suffering with cerebral palsy. The diagnosis was based on the characteristic clinical features and the visualization of wriggling larvae. Large numbers of larvae were found in the gingival sulcus. Treatment consisted of manual removal of the larvae, one by one, with the help of turpentine oil and clinical forceps, local debridement of the labial gingival and oral hygiene practice. Healing was uneventful, with resolution of the condition.