A 65-year old man presented with skin lesions on his chest and left arm and shoulder six weeks after i returning from a cacation in Belize at the beach in the fain forest. The lesions occasionally stung, drained a dark exudates, and enlarged despite two weeks of treatment with cephalexin. The patient had no constitutional symptoms. Physical examination reverled five nodules of varying sizes with surrounding erythema and a central pore through which a single, moving larva was observed. This condition is caused by –
A 65-year old man presented with skin lesions on his chest and left arm and shoulder six weeks after i returning from a cacation in Belize at the beach in the fain forest. The lesions occasionally stung, drained a dark exudates, and enlarged despite two weeks of treatment with cephalexin. The patient had no constitutional symptoms. Physical examination reverled five nodules of varying sizes with surrounding erythema and a central pore through which a single, moving larva was observed. This condition is caused by –
💡 Explanation
**Core Concept**
The patient's symptoms and physical examination findings suggest a condition caused by an insect larvae infestation, specifically a type of cutaneous myiasis. Cutaneous myiasis is a rare but serious condition characterized by the infestation of skin lesions by the larvae of certain fly species, leading to tissue damage and potentially severe consequences.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The patient's symptoms and physical examination findings are classic for cutaneous myiasis caused by the larvae of the screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax). The larvae, also known as screwworm maggots, infest the skin lesions, causing tissue damage and leading to the symptoms described. The presence of a central pore through which a single, moving larva was observed is a key diagnostic feature of this condition. The fact that the patient's symptoms did not improve with cephalexin, a cephalosporin antibiotic, suggests that the condition is not caused by a bacterial infection, but rather by a parasitic infestation.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because it does not accurately describe the condition. The patient's symptoms and physical examination findings are not consistent with a fungal infection.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because it is not a specific enough diagnosis. While the patient does have skin lesions, the specific characteristics of the lesions and the presence of a moving larva suggest a parasitic infestation rather than a more general skin condition.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because it is not a recognized medical term. The patient's condition is not caused by a "skin infestation syndrome."
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Cutaneous myiasis is a rare but serious condition that can be caused by the larvae of various fly species. It is essential to recognize the characteristic symptoms and physical examination findings of this condition, including the presence of a central pore through which a moving larva can be observed.
**Correct Answer:** C.
✓ Correct Answer: A. Tungiasis
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