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An unusual cause of pre-auricular swelling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2009

A T Harris*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, UK
I Bhatti
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, UK
Y Bajaj
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, UK
G J C Smelt
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr A T Harris, Flat 9 Arncliffe House, 1 Arncliffe Road, West Park, Leeds LS16 5JE, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

To present an interesting cause of pre-auricular swelling.

Case report:

We report the case of a 39-year-old woman who presented to the ENT department as an emergency with swelling in the left pre-auricular region. The patient had recently travelled to Central America, where the botfly is endemic. On examination, there was a raised, indurated area with a central orifice. A botfly larva was suspected. The larva was suffocated with paraffin paste, allowing removal without remnants being retained.

Conclusion:

Suffocation of botfly larvae is favoured to surgical removal, due to the possibility of larval remnants being retained and acting as a nidus for infection. The increasing frequency of exotic travel means doctors need to be more aware of tropical medicine.

Type
Clinical Record
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

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References

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