Myiasis: What is it?

Myiasis is the infestation of human tissue (wounds) with fly larvae (eggs, bots, larvae, maggots). The flies lay their eggs on a bloodsucking vector (mosquito). The vector takes a blood meal from a human host; this is the point when the botfly larvae penetrate the human host's skin. The larvae feed subdermally. Other flies may lay their eggs directly on the human host's open wound. This infestation may cause infection and disease. Although not commonly seen in the US, cases may present whenever an individual has untreated open wounds, within an open ostomy site, or wherever flies might congregate under unhygienic conditions.