Like something from a terrible science fiction movie, a botfly does the terrifyingly unthinkable--it burrows under the skin of a human host. The eggs for the botfly larvae can be implanted in something as simple as a mosquito bite. Once it is implanted, however, it becomes something much more worrisome. While not life threatening, a botfly is something that can be a serious problem if you don't know take care of it properly.
Instructions
Remove a Botfly
1. Find out if you have a botfly. Most botfly bites start looking like a regular mosquito bite. The itching and irritation looks exactly the same, and there is nothing in the first four or five days that sets them apart from one another. After a week, however, a regular mosquito bite will begin to heal itself. If it has been scratched raw, it will heal over and the inflammation will subside. If it is a botfly infestation, the inflammation will continue and worsen. The itchiness will also get worse. The bump itself will become harder and feel less and less like a regular mosquito bit, and more like an infection. It is also significant to remember where you were when you got the mosquito bit that might have laid a botfly egg inside you. If you were in a tropical climate, especially if you were in a rainforest, either primary or secondary, and the mosquito bite in question was from there, it is very possible that this is indeed a botfly infestation.
2. Apply pressure to the botfly. If you are sure you have a botfly, find a friend that you trust and get ready to remove it. Start this removal process by having your friend hold onto either side of the inflamed area, or mound, with the opening of the bite in the middle. Have your friend apply pressure to either side of the mound, pressing the major part of the inflammation up and out. It should be as though your friend is popping an enormous zit. Tell him to keep applying pressure until the tail of the botfly larvae appears. This will most likely hurt you and you may bleed a little.
3. Pull the botfly out. With the tweezers, have your friend firmly grab onto the tail of the botfly and begin pulling. The botfly will have itself firmly planted inside you, so there may be some resistance. Have steadily and don't tug, otherwise the botfly larvae may break in two. Tell your friend to pull until the botfly larvae is completely out, then discard the botfly.
4. Clean the wound. Immediately wash the wound with warm water and soap and apply iodine to the wound, as well, to prevent infection. Bandage the botfly wound after disinfecting and change the bandages on a daily basis until you are completely healed.
Tags: your friend, botfly larvae, mosquito bite, regular mosquito, your friend pull, botfly infestation, either side