How do gadfly larvae penetrate the human body?

Among over 150 species of gadflies, only one, called Dermatobia Hominis, is a danger to humans. In Russia and the CIS countries it can not be found - the insect is found only in countries with a tropical climate: Central America, Argentina and some parts of Mexico. Larva of a gadfly in a person can cause a lot of unpleasant phenomena: inflammation, suppuration, disruption of the normal activity of the body's systems, and surgical intervention may be required to remove it.

How can a larva enter the body?

An adult gadfly is a fly, the size of which does not exceed 18 mm. She has a large head with large eyes located on it, a blue abdomen, orange-colored legs and transparent wings. Because of the hairs throughout the body, the gadfly resembles a bumblebee.

An adult insect throughout its brief life does not eat anything, but uses nutrients accumulated in the larval phase.

30 seconds after the release, the adult gadfly becomes capable of flying and breeding. One female can produce up to 700 eggs, but the larva appears only from 1/5 of their part.

The female catches mosquitoes, ticks and almost 40 species of other blood-sucking insects and lays eggs on their abdomen. At the moment when insects sit on the human skin, the larvae, having felt the heat, hatch from the eggs and pass onto the skin, into which they subsequently penetrate. Penetration into the body is not accompanied by any painful sensations, and most often goes unnoticed for a person.

Mature larvae have special hooks on their bodies with the help of which they are able to stay on the skin. Feeding on blood, the larvae grow, with time they reach 1.5-2 cm. In total, the parasite lives in the host body from 5 to 10 weeks. After this period, they crawl to the surface of the skin and fall to the ground, where they pupate. After 2-4 weeks, an adult human gadfly comes out.

Is it possible to catch a gadfly larva in Russia?

About 6 species of gadfly are widespread in Russia, and all of them prefer to choose cattle or horses as the owner. However, occasionally, cases are recorded when the larvae are found in humans - in the eyes or under the skin.

What symptoms does the parasite cause?

The larva can penetrate into any part of the human body: arms, legs, chest, head. However, most often she chooses legs, back and armpits. Sometimes larvae settle in the eyes and nose.

If gadfly larvae got into the human body, then at first no signs can be noticed. At the site of penetration of the parasite, a swelling first develops, which is difficult to distinguish from a mosquito bite.

After some time, the skin area becomes inflamed, hurts, swelling of a bluish or reddish tint appears. An abscess forms, which after some time is opened. Due to this, a hole remains in the skin, providing the larva with an influx of air. When the abscess was opened, pus is released from the wound.

Larvae of the gadfly in the human body cause deterioration of health: vomiting, dizziness, muscle pain and fever appear. At the site of the focus of inflammation, movement under the skin can be felt.

If parasites get into the eyes, then, moving, they constantly irritate the mucous membrane, eye pressure rises, lacrimation appears, there may be bleeding and pain.

Important! Larvae not detected in time can penetrate the vitreous body or the anterior chamber of the eyeball, and this is fraught with partial or complete loss of vision.

When it gets into the nose, a headache develops, the sense of smell worsens, a pain sensation appears in the nose, and swelling of the nose and mucous membranes is formed. Larvae may even exit through the nostrils.

What harm do they do to the body?

What is the danger to humans of a gadfly laying larvae under the skin? With the timely detection of the parasite and the removal of its life-threatening complications, it does not occur. However, if you do not get rid of the larvae in the eyes in time, they can cause loss of vision.

Complications are possible - the development of a secondary infection.

How to treat infection with larvae?

The disease caused by the larvae of the human gadfly has a name - dermatobiasis.

Diagnostics

To diagnose an ailment, a blood test is used to determine the number of antibodies. The patient will find out if he has been to the places where the disease spread. A visual examination is also used, during which a purulent abscess with an opening is found on the skin. The doctor examines the site of inflammation with a magnifier.

Tip: If you suspect the presence of gadfly larvae in the body, it is recommended that you contact an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist.

Drug treatment

Before removing the larva, the use of the antiparasitic drug Ivermectin is indicated.

Larva extraction

The removal of gadfly larvae is carried out by pre-washing the affected area with disinfectants (potassium permanganate, furacilin and others). The larva blocked the access of oxygen by dropping a small amount of sterile oil into the hole. After this, the parasite has no choice but to come to the surface. When he protrudes from the hole in the skin, he is grabbed and gently pulled with a special tweezers or clip.

Important! The operation should be performed only by a doctor. The larva is located in the deep layers of the epidermis, and there are hooks on its body, and with rough or improper extraction, some parts of the parasite can remain under the skin, causing inflammation and suppuration.

After successful completion of the procedure, an antiseptic dressing is applied to the damaged area of ​​the skin.

Going to countries with a tropical climate, you should observe the following precautions: wear clothing protecting from insect bites, use repellents. If the bite of a blood-sucking insect could not be avoided, it is necessary to thoroughly treat the wound with a disinfectant, monitor its condition and consult a doctor at the slightest deviation from the norm.