RESUMO
Background: Myiasis is a disease caused by the infestation of human tissue by the larval stage of various flies. It has been identified in sub-Saharan Africa and in tropical parts of the Americas. Cases have also been identified among travelers returning to the United States. Infestations may involve any part of the body, including the scalp, and open wounds may become infected with these larvae. The primary cause of wound myiasis in the western hemisphere is Cochliomyia hominivorax. Case Report: We present a case of wound myiasis in an adult Haitian male with a persistent wound for 2 years. To our knowledge, only 1 other report of wound myiasis in Haiti caused by C hominivorax has been published. Conclusion: Wound myiasis can occur in many tropical regions of the world, including Haiti. Because of the prevalence of global travel, clinicians should be familiar with the condition's diagnosis and management.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Five medical students traveled with 4 doctors and a medical photographer to Mayaya, La Victoire, Haiti, as part of a Medicine in Society rotation to provide medical care to the indigenous population. METHODS: Preparation for the trip involved special study in identifying microbes and using blood analysis equipment; work in a clinic for underserved people in the New Orleans, LA, area; background reading; Haitian dialect classes; and development of ideas for streamlining clinic operations. RESULTS: During the week in country, the healthcare team saw 472 patients and made more than 1,100 diagnoses. A shortage in almost all needed medications was one of the biggest challenges. CONCLUSION: Each aspect of the pretrip training was useful but did not prepare the students for the conditions in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Overall, the clinic functioned smoothly, and each student had an important role to play each day. Medicine in Society-Haiti gave the medical students a completely new perspective on medicine as they experienced firsthand the ethical dilemma of resource scarcity.