A Florida man's persistent health issues took a nightmarish turn as doctors in Jacksonville unearthed a horrifying infestation of live bugs from his nose and sinuses. The patient, a cancer survivor, had been grappling with nosebleeds and discomfort since October, culminating in a harrowing medical ordeal that exposed a rare condition, nasal myiasis.
The unidentified man's distress escalated on February 9 when he visited the HCA Florida Memorial Hospital after days of face and lip swelling and constant nose bleeds. Dr. David Carlson, an experienced ENT (ears, nose, throat) specialist, conducted a thorough examination and made a chilling discovery – a swarm of 150 live bugs in the larva stage infesting the nasal cavity and sinus.
The insects, some as large as the end of a pinky finger, were feeding, burrowing into tissue, excreting, and causing inflammation, leading to the man's alarming symptoms.
The hospital's medical team, faced with an unprecedented challenge, embarked on a delicate and complex removal process. Graphic footage from the operating room revealed the extraction of the larvae, located perilously close to the skull base beneath the brain.
Dr. Carlson emphasized the potential fatality of the situation had the bugs breached this critical boundary.
Dr Carlson highlighted the patient's compromised immune system due to a cancerous tumor removal from his nose 30 years ago. This, coupled with open spaces in the nasal cavity, created an ideal environment for the parasitic invasion.
The man, now equipped with a special antiparasitic rinse, is expected to make a full recovery.
The source of the infestation was traced back to the patient's handling of dead fish, as he admitted to rinsing his hands in the river without proper cleaning precautions.
Dr Carlson stressed the importance of maintaining hygiene, especially for individuals with compromised immune systems. The creepy crawlies have been sent for identification.
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