A series of 14 cases of aural myiasis is reported. In no case unassociated with otitis media was perforation in the tympanic membrane seen. Local treatment with turpentine oil or ether was prescribed.

Myiasis may be defined as infection of vertebrates with the larvae (maggots) of Diptera flies which feed on the tissues of the host. It has also been called ‘Peenash’ or ‘Scholichiasis’. It is usually seen in the tropics. Myiasis is a far greater problem in sheep, cattle and deer than in man and there is no form of myiasis found exclusively in man. It may involve the nose, ears, eyes, mouth, tonsils, teeth, tracheostomy wounds, skin, vagina, urinary bladder and intestinal tract.

Myiasis is produced by flies belonging to the Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Gastrophilidae, Cuteribridae and species of Musca, Famina, Chrysomyia, C. vicinia, C. americana and the Tumbu fly. As reported by Sood et al. (1976) the commonest genera are Sarcophagidae. Rao (1929) reported that the causative flies for myiasis in India belong to the Muscae and Sarcophagadae.

Myiasis of the ear is very rarely seen. The earliest report so far available in the literature is that by Brauneck in 1949, followed by others from Sahay (1959), Mishra and Mehta (1960), Bhatia and Dayal (1975), and Sood et al. (1976).

In the present series 14 cases of aural myiasis out of 48 cases of myiasis seen during the period from 1965 to 1977 are presented. Of the remaining 34 cases 29 were of nasal myiasis and 5 of nasopalatine myiasis.