Flesh-Eating Maggots Removed From Man's Head

They could have ultimately caused blindness, per a doctor
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 25, 2014 9:01 AM CST

What could possibly be worse than a tapeworm in the brain? Maggots in the nose, possibly. The Independent recounts a horrific-sounding case out of Mumbai, India, where a man underwent a two-hour procedure to have 50 maggots taken out of his nose and sinuses. The medical term for the condition is myiasis, which the CDC defines as "infection with a fly larva." In the 55-year-old's case, a fly may have deposited its eggs in or near his nose. From there, the eggs would have hatched into maggots that ultimately grew to about a centimeter in length, fueled by the man's flesh.

The insects could have ultimately eaten into the bones and soft tissues of the man's face, potentially leading to blindness or even death. Dr. Meenesh Juvekar posted a rather graphic video of the procedure in late April that's just now getting notice. The Independent notes that maggot hosts may not be aware that maggots are at the root of symptoms that can include sneezing, headaches, or puffy eyelids. To wit, in another recently publicized case out of India, a man suffering from buzzing in his ear ended up having hundreds of maggots removed, reports the Huffington Post, which has images. (Are maggots worse than a 5-inch worm?)

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