Multiple furunculoid myiasis in an infant

Abstract

Subcutaneous or furunculoid myiasis is an ectoparasitosis caused by the cutaneous or subcutaneous carriage of larvae of various diptera. The causal agent is most often Cordylobia Anthropophaga in tropical areas. We report an observation of multiple subcutaneous myiasis in an infant. The toddler was 2 months old, with no previous history of myiasis and was up to date with vaccinations. He was treated for furunculoid lesions evolving for 5 days. The dermatological examination revealed three inflammatory nodules centred by a whitish orifice without fluid discharge, located on the thorax, the back and the buttocks. The rest of the clinical examination was unremarkable. A maggot was extracted by bi-digital compression of a nodule in the thorax. The diagnosis of furunculoid myiasis was set. The treatment consisted of manual extraction of the maggots and local care. The evolution was favourable after two weeks, labelled by a complete healing of the lesions. Our case is particular because of the occurrence of subcutaneous myiasis in an infant and its misleading clinical presentation simulating multiple furuncles.