Larvae of a human gadfly under the skin

Gadfly belongs to the insect family, resembling the appearance of flies. The main habitat is the tropics and subtropics, often it can be found in Russia. Insects lay eggs in the hair of animals, but can choose a person for this purpose. They do not pose any danger to people, but the larva of the gadfly can cause significant harm to the body. In total there are 150 species of insects, but only one of them is dangerous - a skin gadfly (Dermatobia hominis), which is capable of attacking people.

The appearance of the larvae

Gadflies lay eggs under the skin of a person, where the development of larvae takes place. In appearance, they resemble the shape of a pear. Rows of thorns are located across their body, and a sclerosed capsule is placed below. The length of the larvae can reach 25 cm, in diameter - 7 mm. With the help of barbs, the parasite is attached to the tissues of the body, eating blood, accumulates useful substances for itself. The liquid secreted by him exerts severe pain, causing a person to have a disease - skin myiasis.

How gadflies propagate, their life cycle

Knowing that these insects are dangerous to humans, they are interested in the question of how the gadfly lays eggs. This "merit" belongs entirely to females laying eggs in the hairline of animals or on human skin. Each of them is a harmful insect with a sticky substance attached to the hairs, and when the larvae appear, they are introduced under the skin.

Females catch ticks, mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects, on the belly of which it lays eggs. At the time of a bite, the gadfly larvae in a person feel heat, leave the egg, sit on the skin and then penetrate under the dermis.

At the time of introduction of the larva of the gadfly in animals and humans, they do not experience discomfort. The life cycle lasts about three to four months. In the first phase of their development, the larvae are in the body. Before molting, closer to the end of the second phase, they move to the back area where fistulas appear. Through these small holes, the larvae breathe and after a while they go outside.

Important!

Not everyone knows how long the gadfly larva lives in a person. It develops within a month, but becoming an adult, it remains in the human body for about two to three months, after which it leaves it and enters the soil.

The last stage of development is pupation. Being at this stage, the insect does not need food, and after 2-3 weeks an adult individual appears - a gadfly. After half a minute, the females are capable of flying and breeding. It can lay about 700 eggs, but only 1/5 of the larvae appear. A photo of the larva of the gadfly and the insect itself can be seen below.

Most often, such people fall into the risk group:

• not following basic hygiene rules;
• patients suffering from mental disorders, vascular diseases, diabetes, impaired blood flow;
• drug addicts;
• alcoholics;
• children;
• people of advanced age;
• travelers keen on trips to tropical countries.

This is the answer to the question of whether the gadfly can lay a larva in a person. For people, this phenomenon is rare, most often animals are affected by this.

What is dangerous gadfly

The human gadfly lives in almost any part of the body: on the head, arm, chest, leg. It can be found even in the eye and nose. But most of all they like to live in the back and armpits. The stay of the gadfly larva does not go unnoticed, since in the place where it settled, a small bump appears, as if from mosquito bite. After a certain period of time, pain, inflammation appears, the bump becomes red or blue. After an abscess is discovered, which erupts, forming a hole for the larva, through it it gets out.

Interesting!

If the human gadfly lives in the body, it can pave the way to its “liberation" through the nose.

With the appearance of inflammation from the wound, pus appears, which leads to a sharp deterioration in health:

• weakness appears:
• a person experiences nausea:
• vomiting may occur;
• dizziness is observed;
• pain appears in the muscles of the body.

If the parasite gets into the eyes, mucous membrane irritation occurs, eye pressure rises, lacrimation. These symptoms may join bleeding. Therefore, a gadfly is dangerous for a person.

Feedback

I work as an ophthalmologist. I have had cases when a subcutaneous gadfly, or rather, its larva was in the eyes of a person. Patients come with a headache, their eyes watery, there is swelling, irritation. The task of doctors is to correctly eliminate the parasite from the organ, which we successfully cope with.

Valentina, Kursk

Important!

Larvae are very dangerous. According to statistics in the world recorded cases when they penetrated the brain, which led to death.

How is the removal

Pulling out gadfly larvae is an operating procedure that a specialist must perform. Before proceeding with the extraction of the parasite, the doctor degreases the abscess using a solution of furatsilina or other means indicated for this case. After that, sterile oil is dripped into the hole, which will not allow the larva to breathe. Lack of oxygen makes her go outside. As soon as she begins to appear from the hole, the doctor takes it out with a special medical tool and puts a bandage on.

A quick and effective method is surgery. Removal of gadfly larvae is a painless process, as it takes place under anesthesia. The doctor makes a small incision, removes the larva, applies a bandage and prescribes a course of treatment with antibiotics. After 1-2 weeks, the wound heals. Sometimes scars remain on the body.

Important!

It is not recommended to independently get the larva. She holds on tightly to the tissue and is deep in the epidermis. If a person tries to extract it independently, there is a possibility that part of the larva will remain under the skin. As a result, the inflammatory process and suppuration will begin.

Prevention

The gadfly larva under the skin of a person most often can be found among residents and guests of tropical countries. Many people today visit America, Mexico, Argentina, in the Russian regions there is also a gadfly that can lay eggs on the skin of animals and humans. This should be known and must be prepared in advance. It is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• Do not appear in places in which gadflies live in large numbers;
• Wear clothing that protects against bites;
• use repellents that are sold in stores in stock.

Observing such simple rules, gadfly larvae will not appear in the human body. But if this happens, you should use special means handle the wound. If something starts to bother, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Animal gadfly larvae

Pets, like humans, are susceptible to various diseases. There are many cases when gadfly larvae in a dog were discovered by humans. To a greater extent this applies to stray animals.Insects lay eggs in the sand, the dog, having run up, goes to rest, and allows them to move into the body of the animal.

The gadfly larvae in the kitten also had a place to be. Doctors demonstrate operations to remove them in videos. The sight is not very pleasant. If the animals are not delivered to the veterinary service on time, they may die. If gadfly appeared in the house, it is recommended to purchase funds for getting rid of these insects. It would also be nice to buy or make a trap yourself.