ORAL MYIASIS: A SHORT OVERVIEW.

The term ‘Myiasis’ was first introduced by Hope (1840), refers to the invasion of tissues and organs of animals and human wounds and certain body cavities by the dipteran larvae which manifests as subcutaneous furunculoid or boil-like lesions. Oral myiasis is still more “rare” and “unique” owing to the fact that oral cavity rarely provides the necessary habitat conducive for a larval lifecycle. Oral myiasis is a disease associated with poor oral hygiene, mouth breathing and incompetent lips. Infestation of tissues of vertebrate species by dipteran larvae is pandemic but more frequently found in tropical and subtropical countries where poor hygiene, poor housing infrastructure, warm humid climate, and proximity with domestic animals prevail. Its diagnosis is made basically by the presence of larvae.This article focuses on etiology, clinical features and treatment modalities of oral myiasis in human subjects.