Doctors examined a woman's severely swollen cheek, inflamed and pulsating with pain she described as "something alive inside." The moment they made a small incision to drain the abscess, a torrent of live maggots poured out, prompting immediate panic and a police storm into the room to investigate potential criminal neglect or abuse.
The cheek harbored a massive infestation from fly larvae—myiasis—burrowing deep into facial tissue after eggs were laid in an untreated wound or ulcer. Over 100 wriggling maggots, some 1 cm long, had feasted on necrotic flesh for days,
causing grotesque swelling and risk of spreading to her brain via sinus invasion. The doctor recoiled in horror at the sight, nearly fainting, as the patient had ignored symptoms amid homelessness and untreated diabetes.
Police arrived swiftly because hospital protocol mandates reporting suspected non-accidental injury or elder abuse when such extreme neglect surfaces—maggots signal prolonged self-harm or caregiver failure, potentially criminal. Forensic teams documented the scene, suspecting the woman delayed care deliberately or was exploited.
Post a Comment