A rare case of gingival myiasis in a 2-year-old child

Abstract

Background: Myiasis is the infestation of live human and vertebrate animal with larvae of Diptera fly which feed on the host dead or living tissue. Gingival myiasis is a very rare disease and associated with poor oral hygiene, senility, suppurative oral lesions, mental retardation and other conditions.

Case report: A case of gingival myiasis in a 2-year-old otherwise healthy child is reported. Treatment consisted of mechanical removal of larvae, extraction of the adjacent devitalized teeth and debridement of necrotic tissues.

Conclusion: Clinicians dealing with oral medicine should be aware of this very rare condition in children.