Myiasis is the infestation of living or dead tissues by larvae (maggots) of dipterous flies. It can affect different parts of the body, including the genitals.
The patient was a 62-year-old postmenopausal female with a prolapsed mass in her labia minora and vulva. A cystoscopy showed an irreducible uterovaginal prolapse infested with maggots.
Flies
Flies are common insects that breed and lay eggs in areas of the home where there is rotting food or organic material. They are also known to hover around filthy areas like sewage and garbage and can even contaminate food that is then eaten by people. If a fly lands on an open wound or a soiled garment, it can lay maggots in order to feed off of the dead tissue. Maggots are the larval stage of a fly and they can be very tiny, looking much like worms.
It is very rare for maggots to infest the human body, but this condition is called myiasis and it can be very painful. It is most likely to occur in people living in tropical or subtropical regions. This condition is also more common in people who live in poor sanitary conditions.
A few years ago, a Chilean medical journal published a case study of a woman who developed vaginal myiasis from maggots that came from her repurposing a vegetable as a dildo. She had been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and it is believed that this antibiotic-resistant bacteria caused the maggots to form in her vulva. It is not known how she got the maggots into her vulva, but this case suggests that it may be possible to introduce maggots to one’s genitals by using produce as a sex toy.
Food
In some cases, people may accidentally ingest maggots through eating spoiled food that contains them. This can cause a temporary bout of food poisoning that typically resolves within several days. In rare instances, it is possible for these worms to travel up the human body to the anus and even the vagina. This is a condition known as myiasis and can be dangerous.
The maggots in this case are the larvae of a particular type of fly called a flesh fly. Flesh flies are a common pest in homes and businesses, and their larvae can feed on necrotic tissues like dead animals or open wounds. Flesh flies typically attack carcasses and garbage, but they will also seek out cats with broken umbilical cord stubs or newborn kittens that haven’t fully shed their skin.
Once maggots eat their way through the dead tissue in an open wound, they release special chemicals that break down the tissue and clean the wound of bacteria. This process is known as defecation and can speed up the healing time for a wound.
However, this particular woman’s maggots came from inside her own body. A 62-year-old postmenopausal female presented with a prolapsed mass in her vulva that had become irreducible and was covered with maggots and eggs. The doctors found that she had genital myiasis.
Water
You might think this is a gross medical condition that only happens to people who are living in poor conditions, but the fact is that maggots have infiltrated human genitals before. The medical term for this is myiasis, and it can lead to infection, pain, and even amputation in some cases. Maggots are the larvae of house flies and blow flies, and they can grow to be about an inch long. They look like worms, with no eyes and a wide mouth.
The most common way to get maggots in the vagina is through ingesting them. The flies lay their eggs in a moist and warm environment, and when they hatch, the larvae feed on the body tissue around them. If they aren’t removed, the maggots will continue feeding and growing until they become adult flies. These flies will then lay their own eggs in the same environment, and the cycle continues.
A few cases of vaginal myiasis have been reported in the medical literature over the years, but most of these patients didn’t have any STDs. This is one of the reasons that doctors don’t encourage women to use vegetables or other produce as dildos. Instead, they suggest using a quality dildo and washing it thoroughly.
Trash
Maggots are flies in their larval stage that love to feast on rotting waste. They tend to thrive in warm and humid climates. During the summer, people tend to throw more trash and leave it outside for longer periods of time. These rotting foods lure flies, and the flies then lay their eggs on the waste. The maggots then hatch and start eating the waste.
A few common household products can get rid of maggots quickly. A strong cleaner with a bactericide, such as a bleach solution or dog shampoo, can kill the maggots. Alternatively, you can use a homemade cleaning solution. Vinegar mixed with water makes a powerful cleaning agent that can also remove the odor from your garbage container and stop the maggots from laying more eggs.
Another natural way to get rid of maggots is by using diatomaceous earth. This powder sticks to the maggots and dehydrates them, which kills them. You can sprinkle this powder around the area where you have seen flies or in your house where they are breeding. The powder is also effective for getting rid of fleas and other insects. You can find it at pet stores or online. The spores in the powder can also help to clear up acne and other skin problems. It is a great addition to your home and garden.
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