Medics remove 150 MAGGOTS from a woman’s mouth after dental procedure left her with rotting tissue
A team of shocked medics removed 150 maggots from a woman’s mouth that had appeared after a dental procedure left her with rotting tissue.
The 40-year-old patient, whose name was not released, went to EsSalud Alberto Sabogal Sologuren Hospital in Callao, Peru, with excruciating mouth pain.
She had no idea that this was caused by the maggots that had taken up residence there.
Doctors at the hospital explained that the condition is called oral myiasis, a very serious health problem caused by the contamination of larvae in dead tissue.
They prepared her for immediate surgery on May 14 to get rid of the maggots and prevent the infection from spreading further.
A team of shocked medics removed 150 maggots from a woman’s mouth that had appeared after a dental procedure that left behind rotting tissue
Blurry video footage (pictured) shows the numerous maggots floating in a small container of water after being removed from the woman’s mouth
Dr. Renzo Paredes, a maxillofacial and oral surgeon from the hospital’s dental service, said the patient reported that her symptoms started after she underwent dental treatment elsewhere, which left her with dead tissue in her mouth.
He and his team managed to remove all the larvae, clean the necrotic tissue and then close the wounds.
Video footage shows the numerous maggots floating in a container of water after being removed from the woman’s mouth.
Dr. Paredes said: ‘A total of 150 worms were removed from the oral cavity due to myiasis, which usually occurs in other parts of the body.
“It happens when there is necrotic tissue; that is, dead tissues that occur in people with limited mobility, psychomotor or psychiatric history and poor hygiene.’
After the procedure, the patient was discharged, and the relatives who accompanied the woman to the hospital thanked the doctors.
Doctors at the hospital explained that the condition is called oral myiasis, a very serious health problem caused by the contamination of larvae in dead tissue.
Dr. María Aguilar Del Aguila, executive chairman of EsSalud, also praised the rapid medical response and urged policyholders to regularly visit health facilities for any health problems that arise.
Oral myiasis is a type of infection caused by fly larvae, associated with pre-existing lesions and inadequate oral hygiene, and is more common in elderly patients or in patients with high psychomotor dependence that facilitates infection.
The geographical distribution is variable, but is related to warm and humid climates.
Predisposing factors include low socio-cultural level, insufficient environmental and personal hygiene and various pre-existing pathologies.