Mouth Larvae (Oral Myiasis): Causes, Symptoms & Prevention

Mouth Larvae (Oral Myiasis): Causes, Symptoms & Prevention

You might be surprised to hear that fly larvae have been known to survive inside the mouth of people. It may sound appalling, but oral myiasis or mouth larvae is a rare but quite real issue. In this blog, we will discuss what mouth larvae are, how and why they occur, signs to watch out for, how they can be treated and more importantly, how you can avoid them.

You might be surprised to hear that fly larvae have been known to survive inside the mouth of people. It may sound appalling, but oral myiasis or mouth larvae is a rare but quite real issue. In this blog, we will discuss what mouth larvae are, how and why they occur, signs to watch out for, how they can be treated and more importantly, how you can avoid them.

What Are Mouth Larvae?

Mouth larvae refers to the infestation of maggots (fly larvae) in the mouth. Larvae are the immature stage of certain insects, especially flies. It occurs when flies lay eggs in the tissues of the mouth, and these eggs hatch into larvae (maggots), which then start feeding on the soft tissues inside the mouth. In some rare and serious cases, these larvae can infest the human mouth. Several types of flies are known to cause such infestations. Some of them are:

1. Screwworm Fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax, Chrysomya bezziana)

These have a distinctive screw-like shape and feed aggressively on living cells. They cause rapid tissue destruction and severe infections, especially in tropical and subtropical regions.

2. Human Botfly (Dermatobia hominis)

This fly transfers its eggs to humans through mosquitoes or other insects. Once inside the mouth, the larvae burrow into soft tissue, leading to sharp pain, swelling, and inflammation.

3. Flesh Flies (Sarcophagidae Family)

Flesh flies lay eggs in decaying or infected mouth tissue. The larvae feed on dead tissue, worsen existing wounds, and delay healing, especially in unhygienic conditions.

4. Horse Botfly (Gasterophilus spp.)

Although they mainly affect horses, humans can get infected by ingesting contaminated food or water. The larvae irritate the mouth lining, causing discomfort and swelling.

5. Blowfly (Calliphoridae Family)

These flies are known for laying eggs on open wounds or necrotic tissue. Their larvae feed on both dead and live tissue, resulting in significant damage in unclean or neglected cases.