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Bot Fly (Dermatobia Hominis)

Its semi official: I have a bot fly larva or “maggot” growing inside my left hand. Thought I was going crazy when I first noticed something moving around in the wound while at work. I had the movement confirmed by a coworker and went straight to my physician who took a noticeably quick look and said I was imaging things. I protested and claimed that there was something moving inside the wound. I also said I thought it could be a bot fly since I read about it in a travel book before my trip to Central America. He called today leaving a message requesting I call him back immediately. After further review of my case (googled bot fly?) he now believes I have a bot fly infestation. That’s what I told him yesterday!

Lets back up a bit. I was in Belize for about 8 days of which I spent 2 nights in the jungle. I was bitten by mosquitoes countless times during my stay. Now, the bot fly lays its eggs on a mosquito and they hatch when the mosquito bites you. Then the larva burrows deep into the skin and sets up shop.

Over the last week and a half I noticed a little bump on my hand where the mosquito bite uses to be. Two days ago I woke up with an extremely swollen hand so I went to the doctor ($20). He prescribed the usual antibiotics and suggested I keep my hand above the heart and not use it for a while. The next day at work I noticed a little white thing poking in and out of the wound (the larva breathing) so I went back to the doctor($20) who dismissed my claims as a wild imagination and suggested I come back in two days to checkup on the healing progress of swollen hand($20). Feeling embarrassed about appearing to “cry wolf” I told him these visits were getting expensive so he said to come back in 9 days when the antibiotics were finished. Today I woke up to sharp pains (bot fly eating) and could plainly see it move an air snorkel in and out of the obvious hole in my hand. Later on in the day is when I get the message from the doctor claiming he figured out that in fact it may be a bot fly. Thanks genius.

So far I’ve tried putting Vaseline over the air hole and red meat (so it has something to burrow into) in an attempt to force the larva out. Both with no luck. So we’ll see what happens tomorrow when I talk to the doctor.