Pneumocephalus: a rare complication of nasal myiasis

Infestation of ear, nose, and throat by maggots, the larvae of the fly (genus Chrysomyia) [J Laryngol Otol 1976:393-399], is termed “myiasis.” Prevalent in tropical countries, atrophic rhinitis is the most common predisposing factor for this condition. The maggots burrow into delicate membranes and feed on underlying structures, causing considerable destruction of tissues, resulting in complications such as extensive erosion of the nose, face, and orbit, with rarely meningitis and death as a result of intracranial involvement [J Laryngol Otol 1989;103:489-491]. We report a rare complication of pneumocephalus after atrophic rhinitis with nasal myiasis.