The occurence of human myiasis caused by larvae of Cochliomyia hominivorax was registered for the first time in Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. From November, 1999 to October, 2002 were registered, in three public hospitals 24 cases of myiasis in human beings, of both sexes, with age varying from 08 to 93 years old. The wounds infested with screwworms observed in these patients were classified as cutaneous, oral, anal, aureal and ocular myiasis. The inferior members were more frequently attacked (10/24) (41.7%) than the other anatomic areas. In all of the cases, the myiasis were established in pre-existent lesions, and the factors that predispose to this disease were: excoriations of varied nature (10/24) (41.7%); no identified lesions (05/24) (20.8%); diseases of the circulatory system (03/24) (12.5%); tumors (02/24) (8.3%); conjunctivitis, auricular infections, dermatitis and surgical wound (01/24) (4.2%). The factors that predispose to be infested by C. hominivoraxwere the physical and mental weakness, dehydration, inadequate corporal hygiene, diabetes, malnutrition, elephantiasis, schizophrenia, alcoholism, anemia, lice infestation and fundamentally accidental wounds.
Human myiasis; C. hominivorax; Calliphoridae; Pernambuco; Brazil
