An unusual and unsettling place for a worm.
A 56-year-old man presented complaining of urinary frequency, passing urine eight times per day, urethral irritation and dysuria. Investigations showed no evidence of urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted infections. Three months later he presented, again complaining of increased urinary frequency and urethral irritation. He brought with him a urine specimen containing a small 'worm', 2 mm in length, identified as a drain fly (or moth fly) larva, of the genus Psychoda (dipterous flies). Psychoda lay eggs in organically polluted water such as sewage plants, sink drains or on decaying vegetables and fruits. Urogenital myiasis may arise from hatching of larvae near the urethral opening and ascending migration along the urethra with consequent urethritis. Following larval identification, ivermectin was prescribed and the man's symptoms improved after six weeks.
Samuel
M I
MI
Caldecot Centre, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. ittysamuel@hotmail.co.uk
Taylor
C
C
D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009198:Myiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D011576:Psychodidae; D014526:Urethritis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology
D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D007559:Ivermectin