Covid and mucor patient from Andhra Pradesh survives maggot infestation

HYDERABAD: Nearly 150 larvae (maggots) of houseflies were removed from the nose of a Covid and mucormycosis survivor at a city-based hospital after she landed here in critical condition. When the 50-year-old homemaker from Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh was wheeled into the hospital, she was in semi-coma and in delirium.

The patient had contracted Covid some six months ago and later developed mucormycosis. With the deadly infection spreading to her brain, her right eye had to be removed. The Covid infection had also impaired kidney function and triggered uncontrolled diabetes.

Examination of the patient revealed a bunch of maggots just below the brain. Efforts began to stabilse her given her high blood sugar levels and weak kidney functioning. While a team of general physician and nephrologist were striving to stabilise her health condition, the process of cleaning the maggots was initiated simultaneously.

Explaining how the rare condition occurred, Dr Nrayanan Janakiram, skull surgeon and senior ENT consultant, Century Hospital, who led the procedure of removing the maggots, said, "When a mosquito or housefly lands on our skin, we can feel the sensation and try to drive it away, but in mucormycosis patients they are unable to feel anything as they lose sensation in the affected area."

"In this case, as the patient was unable to feel anything, the houseflies entered the nose and laid eggs there. The eggs hatched and larvae came out. These can enter the brain and cause meningitis," Dr Janakiram explained.

"She has completely recovered now and is able to see with her left eye. She is walking and attending to her regular domestic chores," the doctor added.