Myiasis is a parasitic infection caused by fly larvae, commonly known as maggots. It is typically caused by species such as Dermatobia hominis and Cordylobia anthropophaga. The most prevalent form is cutaneous myiasis, which has subtypes like furuncular, wound, and migratory myiasis, affecting the skin.
In addition to cutaneous forms, myiasis can affect other parts of the body, such as the nose (nasopharyngeal myiasis) and eyes (ophthalmomyiasis). Though rare, it can also impact the intestines and urogenital system in extreme cases.
While myiasis is uncommon in the U.S., it is more frequently seen in tropical and subtropical areas such as Mexico, South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caribbean, where the conditions are more favorable for fly larvae to infest hosts.