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| Fig. 33.6 Cutaneous myiasis. A, Two lesions of furuncular myiasis in a young child. The lesions were acquired in Panama. B, Furuncular larva after removal from patient. (Panel A courtesy of the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center teaching files.) |
More properly called
furuncular myiasis in humans, a warble occurs when fly eggs or larvae are introduced into intact skin. A large larva, more than 1 cm in length in some species, grows over time. Careful examination usually reveals a “snorkel” protruding through the skin of a boil that moves when the abscess is manipulated. Surgical extirpation is the treatment of choice, although other therapies, including occlusion of the furuncle opening with petrolatum or a piece of meat, have been reported to be successful (Fig. 33-6).
