Giant Worm Hatches in Woman’s Forehead
- A woman in the United States recently had an 8-centimeter-long worm removed from under her eyelid, marking a rare instance of infection by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria repens.
- repens is not currently found in the United States, this case, along wiht others, is raising concerns among researchers that the worm may be adapting to use humans...
- Dirofilaria immitis, commonly known as dog heartworm, occasionally infects humans.
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Rare Eye Worm Infection Highlights Emerging Parasitic Threat
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What Happened?
A woman in the United States recently had an 8-centimeter-long worm removed from under her eyelid, marking a rare instance of infection by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria repens. the case, reported this year, is believed to have been contracted during a vacation in Greece. Doctors successfully removed the worm surgically, and the patient’s symptoms resolved.
Why This Matters: A Potential shift in Parasitic Behavior
While D. repens is not currently found in the United States, this case, along wiht others, is raising concerns among researchers that the worm may be adapting to use humans as a primary host, rather than simply an accidental one. A 2023 case report from Serbia detailed an infection where microfilariae (baby worms) were found in the patient’s blood, a sign of a more established infection. Researchers involved in that case speculated that such instances could be increasing in frequency. A similar case was reported this year in Austria, also linked to travel in Greece, further fueling these concerns.
Currently, the risk to Americans remains low, as D. repens has not been established within the US. However, the US is home to related filarial worms. Dirofilaria immitis, commonly known as dog heartworm, occasionally infects humans. Another species,Mansonella ozzardi (referred to as Mr. thin in the original article),can cause similar symptoms to D. repens, including worms migrating under the skin, notably around the eyes. As of now, M. ozzardi has primarily been found in raccoons in Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Treatment and Outlook
The prognosis for individuals infected with these worms is generally good. Treatment typically involves surgical removal of the worm, frequently enough effectively resolving the issue. Anti-parasitic or antibiotic drugs may also be administered to eliminate any remaining infection or co-infections. In the recent case, the woman’s symptoms fully disappeared after the worm was removed from her eyelid.