Travel-Acquired Furuncular Cutaneous Myiasis Mimicking a Bacterial Abscess in a Pediatric Patient

Furuncular cutaneous myiasis can closely mimic common bacterial abscesses, especially in regions where Dermatobia hominis is not endemic. Here, we present a case of a healthy six-year-old male who returned from a Caribbean cruise and developed four painful nodules on his scalp and arm that were initially presumed to be bacterial abscesses. Incision and drainage yielded little to no purulence. Operative exploration under general anesthesia revealed four intact D. hominis larvae, all of which were successfully extracted. This case underscores the importance of obtaining a travel history and considering myiasis when "abscesses" do not behave as expected, particularly when attempted drainage yields minimal material. Pediatric cases can present with multiple lesions, and definitive treatment may require operative removal in young patients who cannot tolerate awake extraction. Awareness of this entity is critical to avoid unnecessary antibiotics, repeated procedures, and delayed diagnosis in children presenting with furuncular lesions after travel to endemic areas.