Question: Hi Dr. Mintz. I am a 32 yr old female suffering from what I think is some kind of myiasis or parasite infection. Spent a lot of time in SE Asia - Thailand, Cambodia and India and have had recurrent/ongoing health problems since returning three years ago. In the last year I have been having odd things come out of my skin, sores and pustules all over my body and scalp that never fully heal and often come back, as well as a ton of filament type threads that come out of everywhere - skin, nose, gums, ears, eyeballs. I have never had acne or skin issues before in my life. I moved from CO to FL about 5 mos. ago and ever since the problem has progressed rapidly. I have actually pulled an insect wing out of my leg and continuously am expelling larva looking things, little clumps of what looks like very fine black lint or hair (I'm blond) as well as clumps of odd colors of goo with these thread things and little black flecks that emerge from XXXXXXX in the skin. I've lost over 25 lbs in past few years without trying, been running a low grade fever for months, frequent profuse night sweats, daily headaches that often persist for weeks at a time without letting up for a moment, debilitating fatigue...blood tests revealed high liver enzymes, subsequent ultrasound showed 4 hyperechoic lesions on my liver, have MRI w/ IV contrast scheduled in a few days. Have seen several Dr.s who are obviously running these tests but they immediately dismiss my requests to test for myiasis type parasites. I know is not often seen here but in the countries I was living it is not hugely uncommon. But they won't take me seriously and assume I am just crazy, probably thinking delusional parasitosis and have refused to even perform skin scrapings or biopsies. Am beyond frustrated and not sure how to get the help I need, or find someone who will at least bother to hear me out, do a little research which would easily confirm this is a real condition or even just humor me by performing diagnostic tests to at least eliminate the possibility of what my intuition, not to mention the physical evidence is telling me. If you could offer any insight into this or what I can do I would be most grateful.

Thank you Dr. I wasn't sure whether parasites that cause myiasis or filariasis could be affecting the liver though I know there are types that will cause a systemic infestation and are found in the organs as well as skin, all this info tends to come from WHO or research from other countries, US doctors don't often come across this so disregsrd it. If there is an infestation it has been slowly gestating for about 3 years and there have been rapid changes since moving from a cold dry climate to a tropical one which would seem in keeping with a tropical parasite. I do have a good psychiatrist here and have seen one for past couple of years, assumed I was just developing OCD behavior and was trying various treatments, couldn't explain skin changes - thought was maybe hormonal so went on birth control - then found what was very clearly an insect wing coming out of my leg. The lesions are similiar to subcutaneous cysts and are likewise tender and sometimes painful but they appear places acne would not - shins, scalp etc. Once they rupture, there is never blood, the scab remains for weeks and leaves a white scar rather than a darker purple one. They appear in clusters in random places and are very cyclical in nature. I did bring in samples of what I was finding to a dermatologist who said it would be sent to a lab but don't think that happened as last I checked she said it all looks like is probably skin and hair bundles, but I included an actual fly - like a small gnat that was wrapped in small black fibers - which appeared on my white washcloth while doing a vaseline and steam treatment to try and cleanse my skin. Obviously they haven't looked very closely, and I would prefer to just have samples taken as bringing things in is considered a diagnostic criteria for delusional parasitosis, the 'matchbox test'. Ridiculous and astounding. I would like to know what kind of doctor or specialist I should see for treatment, am looking for new one as I can't get an appt for over a month with infectious disease specialist I was seeing, picked up ultarasound results from the office but no one was even available to explain them to me, had to get the MRI order that the results said I needed from my psychiatrist, no one has even told me what hyperechoic lesions are. The results said may represent hemangiomas but MRI was needed to further examine, could you please tell me what this all means? And perhaps what kind of Dr I should see that will best treat this is and not treat me like I'm crazy? I just want this resolved and to feel better.


places and are very cyclical. Again, I don't know if is definitely a parasite but the debris that comes out is unlike