title: [Furuncles on the scalp after a trip to Brazil].
abstract: METHODS
  A 68-year-old woman suffered for six weeks from four skin eruptions on her head after returning from Brazil. The skin manifestations resembled furuncles, grew continually in size until they were about 2 cm in diameter and [corrected] she finally developed intermittent sharp pain on her head. On presentation she had a mild lymphadenopathy on her neck but no other systemic complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each skin eruption had a central porus with seropurulent discharge and on examination within the central opening a whitish, tender moving mass could be detected. TREATMENT, COURSE AND DIAGNOSIS: We cautiously infiltrated each skin eruption with lidocaine. Immediately after infiltration a whitish maggot appeared from each nodule and could be easily extracted with a forceps. The maggots were identified as Dermatobia hominis larvae. After extraction a local antiseptic dressing was applied and the wounds healed without complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dermatobia hominis is a common cause of myiasis in Central- and South-America and should be taken into account in furuncular skin eruptions of returning travelers. The typical appearance of the skin eruption with a central porus, seropurulent discharge and a whitish, tender moving mass within the nodule is quite characteristic for myiasis. The patients often have [corrected] intermittent sharp pain in the area of the affected skin and report continuing growth of the nodules and a sensation of slight movement within the skin eruption. Extraction is accomplished with a forceps after lidocaine infiltration, alternatively an occlusive dressing could be applied by means of which the larvae can be removed easily from the cavity.
authors.affiliation: 1. Medizinische Klinik, Klinik für Hämatologie, Onkologie, Immunologie, Palliativmedizin, Infektiologie und Tropenmedizin, Klinikum Schwabing, Städtisches Klinikum München GmbH, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. drmseil@gmx.net
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seilmaier
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ehlert
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fenzl
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frühwein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005667:Furunculosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005858:Germany / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D009198:Myiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology*; D014195:Travel