What is myiasis?

Myiasis is a disease in which various species of flies lay their eggs on or in human skin. When laid in an open wound, such as a chronic leg or decubitus ulcer, the eggs hatch into larvae (maggots) that feed on damaged skin and complete their life cycle. This is called “wound myiasis” and causes mild to severe inflammation, depending upon the fly species and wound location. In other cases, maggot nibbling of ulcer debris may actually dramatically improve the wound, and wound myiasis has been intentionally induced for this purpose.