Mouth Larva: What it is and Its Treatment

Mouth larvae, or maggots in the mouth, are parasites that may cause an infection known as oral myiasis. These maggots hatch from eggs laid by flies on or around the mouth. Mouth larvae infection can happen due to a lack of proper hygiene practices, which creates a breeding ground for flies.

Once these maggots are hatched, these parasites start feeding on the dead or decaying tissue and bodily fluids of the host. As they feed on the host they produce toxins and attract bacteria, which causes the host tissues to decay by releasing compounds.

Mouths, being moist, provide the ideal environment for maggots to survive and grow. The saliva keeps them hydrated and helps in breaking down food sources. Mouth larvae have tiny holes in their bodies called spiracles that help them to absorb oxygen and sustain.

Understanding the oral myiasis cause can help in alleviating the risk and ensure proper treatment. Let us explore what causes oral myiasis.

Causative Agents: The condition of oral myiasis is caused due to the larvae produced by insects like Cochliomyia hominivorax, Chrysomya bezziana, and Sarcophagidae. The maggots in gums and other parts of the mouth feed on dead and living tissue, along with consuming body fluids.

Common larvae hosts: The common hosts for larvae are different kinds of animals, such as livestock animals, pets, birds, rodents, etc. It also causes infection in the human mouth cavity.

Larvae transmission in humans: Humans can get mouth larvae if they consume contaminated food or water. If they live in areas infested with flies and maintain poor oral hygiene, they may catch the infection. Also, if their mouth comes in direct contact with the larva, people will get oral myiasis.

Causes for developing mouth larva: Poor oral health, lifestyle choices, environmental issues, and pre-existing health conditions can sometimes increase the chances of developing mouth larva.

Geographic Location: Chances of developing mouth larvae are more in hot and moist places. Certain flies thrive in this kind of environment and lay eggs on animal and human skin surfaces.

Individuals with weak immune systems: Individuals who have weak immune systems are at higher risk of getting mouth larvae. Cuts and sores in the mouth increase the chances even more. People with mental or physical disabilities and living in unhygienic conditions also have more chances of getting mouth larvae. Other issues like mouth breathing during sleep, bad breath, misuse of drugs, and frequent tooth extraction increase the chances of mouth larvae.

Mouth larvae can result from the infestation of fly eggs inside the mouth cavity. Understanding the different types of larvae can help you in easy identification and get appropriate treatment for mouth larva removal. Let us explore the types of mouth larvae:

Dermatobia Hominis (Human Botfly) Larvae: Human botflies lay their larvae in mammal’s mouth, skin, and other tissues. They look like bumblebees and the Dermatobia Hominis larvae can also be transmitted through mosquito bites. The eggs hatch after coming in contact with warm human skin. The larvae then get into the oral tissue and cause discomfort in the host.

Screwworm Fly Larvae (Cochliomyia Hominivorax): Screwworm flies are mostly found in tropical and semitropical regions of the western hemisphere. The female Screwworm flies lay their larvae on open wounds, or mucus membranes, like mouth cavities. After hatching, these larvae burrow into the tissue and feed on living tissue. This pest often affects pets and livestock and it can cause death if the wounds are not treated.

Sheep Botfly Larvae (Oestrus Ovis): Sheep botflies generally affect animals, but they infest humans too. If an individual accidentally ingests the larvae through food or water, or if it enters through the nose, the larvae grow inside the mouth cavity, causing irritation.

Horse Botfly Larvae (Gasterophilus spp.): Horse bot flies do not usually affect humans. However, they can infest the oral cavity if accidentally ingested through contaminated food or water. These maggots cause a lot of discomfort and can create complications if left untreated.

Mouth larvae infestation starts with adult female flies laying their eggs around the mouth. This happens if there is readily available food for the larvae, like open wounds, decaying food debris, etc. The eggs hatch within a few days as they come in contact with the tissues. This leads to maggots that feed on the human tissues. They take shelter in the mouth cavity and cause infection and discomfort.

Mouth larvae can occur due to many reasons. It infects people with conditions that affect their ability to keep their mouths closed. Individuals who have the following conditions are more at risk of getting maggots in their mouths.

• Alcohol consumption

• Mouth breathing during sleep

• Tooth extraction

• Mental illness

• Seizures

• Psychiatric disorders

• Nosocomial infection

• Senility

• Substance abuse

Those who maintain poor oral hygiene have more chances of getting mouth larvae infection. Trapped food debris in the mouth can make your mouth the ideal place for flies to lay eggs. Once these eggs are laid, they hatch in a day or two as they come in contact with the warmth of the human body. The larvae after hatching, burrow themselves in the wet tissues of the mouth and cause the infection.

There can be different signs of mouth larvae infestation. Understanding these signs can help you with early diagnosis and avail of treatment. Let us explore some of the signs and symptoms of oral myiasis.

• Swelling and redness

• Discomfort in the affected area

• Mild to acute pain

• Destruction of oral tissues

• Lesions

• Necrotic gums

• Pulsating extraction wounds

• Patients having oral myiasis, sometimes complain of discomfort along with a feeling of movement in their mouth cavity or gums. If you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms, you must seek medical attention immediately for early treatment.

Remember: An early diagnosis can lead to early oral myiasis treatment and recovery.

If the infestation of mouth larva is not treated, it can seriously injure the tissues of your mouth. It can also lead to gum problems and the infected person may lose their teeth. Mouth larvae and their waste in the mouth can lead to bacterial growth, which can lead to secondary infections. In rare cases, it can even cause blood poisoning and lead to a life-threatening condition.

If you see any signs of mouth larvae infection, you must immediately undergo oral myiasis treatment. Seek a doctor’s consultation so that they can tell for sure if it is mouth larvae or something else.

Doctors generally prefer lab tests investigation to confirm mouth larvae presence. The diagnosis may include larva extraction from the patient's mouth and then checking it under a microscope to find out its features and traits.

Doctors treat mouth larvae in different ways, considering the infestation level and damage to the tissue. They may use one of the following methods to treat mouth larvae.

Medicine: Doctors might use medicines, chloroform, mineral oil, mercuric chloride, or turpentine on your mouth to kill the maggots. These medicines suffocate the larvae and force them to come out of the mouth tissues.

Mouth larvae removal through surgery: Sometimes, doctors might need to conduct mouth larvae removal through surgery using clinical pincers or hemostats. They might inject lidocaine into the cysts to push the larvae out and then clean them to prevent any further infection.

Your doctor may also give you antibiotics to fight any secondary infections after the treatment process and ensure a speedy recovery.

You can avoid mouth larvae infection by maintaining good oral care. Treat open wounds right away. Avoid consuming contaminated food or water. Having a good immune system and a healthy body can also help you avoid infection of maggots in your mouth.

Also, if you live in an area that is infested with flies, you may need to control the pest infestation in the area. You may also apply insect repellents, use mosquito nets while sleeping and stay alert. Maintain the cleanliness of the area along with your cleanliness.

Mouth larvae infection can be a serious problem if left untreated. If you develop any signs of maggot infection, you must seek a doctor’s consultation immediately. Your doctor will analyse the signs and come to a correct diagnosis. They can also use various tests to figure out the best oral myiasis treatment and help you get rid of maggots in your mouth. They will also prescribe medicines to stop the pain, speed up the healing process, and prevent it from happening again.

Learning more about mouth larvae infection and who is more at risk can help people avoid it altogether and also get treatment immediately if they accidentally catch the infection.

Taking preventive measures is the best way to reduce the chances of mouth larvae infection. However, there can be situations when individuals catch the infection even after taking precautions.

Doctor visits, lab tests, and treatment can be costly if the infection is severe. In this case, a medical insurance plan can come to your aid. It would also reduce the chances of out-of-pocket expenses to get medical attention.

Tata AIG offers a range of health insurance policies with a wide range of coverage to help individuals manage hospitalisation bills and other medical expenses conveniently. You may check out the medical insurance plans offered by us and choose a mediclaim policy best suited to your requirements and budget.

It is wise to opt for health insurance policies at an early age so that you can be prepared to get coverage for any unforeseen medical bills in future.

There are a lot of benefits of health insurance plans, including covering for hospitalisation, surgery, doctor visits, and medications. Moreover, medical insurance plans also offer tax benefits. You must review the Tata AIG health insurance plan details before investing in one.

1. Who gets mouth larvae?

Individuals with poor oral hygiene and low immunity levels are more at risk of getting mouth larvae infections. People with certain medical conditions, open wounds in and around the mouth, are also at risk of getting oral myiasis.

2. Is mouth larvae dangerous?

If mouth larvae are left untreated, it can lead to severe infections, and lead to damage of the mouth tissue. In some rare cases, mouth larvae can also cause blood poisoning.

3. How can I prevent mouth larvae?

Good oral hygiene is essential to prevent mouth larvae. Also, if you live in a fly-infested area with poor hygiene, you must take more precautions. Keep your wounds clean, try sleeping under a mosquito net, and take measures to improve your immunity.

Disclaimer: This is a general guide on mouth larvae infection, preventive measures, and treatment for mouth larva removal. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. It is advisable to consult a qualified health professional for treatment in severe cases.