New Delhi: A US-based woman was recently diagnosed with an infrequent case of myiasis, a type of tissue infection. The infection occurred in her eye, and she had to go through an eye surgery in a Delhi hospital that went successfully, hospital authorities claimed on Monday.
The woman had reportedly traveled to Amazon forests, prior landing to in India.
“During the operation, three live human botflies almost 2 cm in size were removed from the 32-year-old woman”, hospital authorities informed.
The woman had arrived at the emergency department of the Fortis hospital in Vasant Kunj, complaining of swelling in her right upper eyelid along with redness.
“She also revealed that she had been feeling something moving inside her eyelids once in a while for the past 4-6 weeks”, a statement released by the hospital informed.
“She had consulted doctors in the US, but the myiasis (botfly) could not be removed and doctors discharged her on few symptomatic relief medications”, read the statement.
The statement further read, “Dr Narola Yanger from the surgery department proactively managed to remove three live human botflies almost of 2 cm in size — one from the right upper eyelid, second one from the back of her neck and third from her right forearm”.
Myiasis occurs from a flying larva or maggot inside the human tissue. The infection mostly occurs in tropical as well as subtropical regions.
“It was a very rare case of myiasis. Therefore, these cases need to be evaluated in detail urgently”, said Dr Mohammad Nadeem, consultant and head emergency department.
“The US national is a traveler and had a history of visiting the Amazon jungle two months back. Suspecting foreign body from her history of travelling, and noticing movements inside her skin, the diagnosis was done,” he said.
The surgery was reportedly completed aseptic precautions but without any anesthesia. The woman has been discharged on symptomatic prescribed medicines.
