Cutaneous tumbu fly myiasis in a returning child traveller and a novel EMLA-assisted extraction technique in paediatric emergency care

Myiasis is a parasitic infestation caused by dipterous larvae and is an important diagnostic consideration in travellers returning from endemic regions with infected skin lesions. Paediatric cases present unique management challenges, particularly when invasive procedures or general anaesthesia are considered. We report a case of cutaneous myiasis with associated cellulitis in a toddler following travel to Gambia, caused by Cordylobia anthropophaga (tumbu fly). A novel non-operative approach using eutectic mixture of local anaesthetic cream was successfully employed to facilitate larval extraction, avoiding the need for surgical intervention. This case highlights a safe, effective and minimally invasive technique for managing paediatric cutaneous myiasis in an emergency department setting.