ā‰” Menu

Mango Worm: Another Creepy Crawly that Emerges from the Skin

mango worm

I think we’ve maxed out our “photos that make you queasy” quota, so we will go with a g-rated picture of some mangoes for this post. If you want to see more graphic content, you can scroll down to the video we have embedded in the post.

What are mango worms?

First, the mango worm goes by many names. It is technically a fly larva and it also goes by the names mango fly, putzi fly and tumbu fly depending on where you are.

Where are mango worms found?

Mango worms are found throughout tropical areas of sub-Saharan Africa, but is more common in certain regions (Central Africa, for example). You could come across them in another part of the world, too, but only if a human or animal traveled while infected with the worms.

The worm works like this:

  1. Adult female worm lays a few hundred eggs into the soil OR onto some damp clothing that is hanging out to dry.
  2. The larvae penetrate the skin of the host and take up residence in the subcutaneous tissue, a layer of skin that has fat and connective tissue filled with blood vessels and nerves.
  3. Then they grow and fatten up.
  4. After 8-12 days, a boil will have formed.
  5. It will itch and then get increasingly painful before it…
  6. actually opens up so the worm can come out to play.
  7. The worm then falls to the ground where it buries itself in order to go into its final stage of growth before turning into a fly.

Got it? Good.

How can mango worm be prevented?

Mango worm is generally very uncommon for travelers to come across, but there are certainly a few steps you can take to really minimize your risk. For one, do not walk around barefoot on soil. By the same token, don’t roll around in the soil. Never a good idea.

As far as your clothes go, if you are in an area where mango worm is prevalent, it would be best to machine dry your clothes or iron them after leaving them out to line dry. The heat will effectively kill the larvae.

Mango worm treatment

There is no medication you can take that will kill the mango worm. You simply have to wait for it to come out. Alternatively, you can cover the boil with vaseline or a similar product and wait till the worm pops out on its own (the vaseline will cut off its access to oxygen). In rare cases, a visit to a clinic may be required to extract the worm.

Mango worms do not pose a serious health risk. They do not carry other diseases with them and they do not cause complications themselves outside of the boil that they create. It is important, however, to remember to thoroughly disinfect the area after the worm has emerged from the body.

For a (graphic) visual demonstration of mango worm extraction, have a look at the video below.

Mango worms should not be your primary travel health concern when traveling. In most cases, travelers will not come across them. That said, you should always visit a travel health clinic before traveling to your destination to become familiar with the possible health risks that exist there. If mango worm is present, the doctor will be able to offer additional advice on the level of risk, prevention, and treatment.

Have you ever had mango worm before? Please share your experience in the comments below.

{ 89 comments… add one }

  • Heather April 8, 2013, 5:26 pm

    Hi, just wanted to let you guys know that the YouTube video has apparently been removed. Just wanted to let you know so that you can put a new video up on this article. c:

    • phil May 5, 2013, 11:13 pm

      Hey Heather,
      It looks like it’s still there. Working for me, anyway. — Phil

  • Sarah May 5, 2013, 11:12 pm

    I have been living in Africa for the last ten months. I have heard so many stories about people and animals animals getting mango worms….
    I never thought the day would happen, when I would get them. For a few days I just thought that I had big mosquito bites, but they became really painful…until tonight I just decided to squeeze the bumps, and sure enough a little worm popped out!
    I had put neosporin on them, and I guess that is what suffocated them to come out.
    I am currently freaking out, as this all just happened about twenty min. ago.
    I was reading some articles that said that it is important to take antibiotics when you realize you have mango worms, but I am not sure.
    It looks like from this article, that antibiotics may not be necessary.
    Well, I think I will go back to freaking out now.
    Just wanted to share my story.

    • phil May 5, 2013, 11:16 pm

      Hey Sarah,
      Sorry to hear this!! The good news is that while mango worm is certainly an unsettling thing to have, it is not life threatening by any means and there shouldn’t be any further complications once the worm comes out. You should make sure to clean the area, however, and then apply a topical antibiotic (like neosporin). If the area does get red and swollen in the coming days, and it’s hot to the touch, you may have an infection and you should go to the doctor. If you clean it and apply the topical antibiotic, however, you should be fine. Thanks for sharing your story, I hope you feel better!
      – Phil

      • Sarah May 6, 2013, 12:53 am

        Thank you so much Phil, you have helped me not freak out as much.
        I am going to throw all my clothes in the dryer as well..to make sure all of them are gone forever!
        I really appreciate your reply. Thank you!

    • Michelle McKim April 18, 2016, 12:36 am

      I noticed the video you use was done by the owner of the above website. As a business woman it is my suggestion that you two get together on the same side of the issue. I wrote him as well.

    • Indsey September 23, 2017, 11:30 am

      Sara!!! Omg omg omg I am spaaa spaaa speechless!! Lol wtf!!! On lol I feel so AMAZED by this right now I have literally 100000 questions. and u are BEAUTIFUL!! U look obviously that u take care of your self tooo !! I just want to know How PAIN full is this REALLY??? Hope u are well

  • Tami May 9, 2013, 8:42 pm

    I heard about this worm when a German doctor who had spent many years in Nigeria asked me if we had tumbo worms in Kenya. After he described how they come out your skin, telling me he’d experienced them, from neglecting to check his air-dried clothes once – I was like, NO, we don’t have them, THANK GOD. Happily, the only problem you can get from hanging clothes to dry in Kenya is if you don’t pull them down before the afternoon rains and the wind knocks them into the mud.
    Anyway thanks for the article, Phil! Always like hearing what you have to say, even when the ewww factor is pretty high! šŸ™‚

    • phil May 10, 2013, 9:27 am

      Yeah, it’s a relief knowing that they are not around! They are a lot more prevalent in West and Central Africa it seems. I’ve never had a bout of them, though, *knocks on wood* and I can be careless at times when drying my clothes. Thanks for stopping by, Tami – always good to hear from you šŸ™‚

      • Kate Scott June 9, 2018, 5:18 pm

        Dr Micha
        Has a channel
        Vet clinic Gambia
        All about the mango worms

    • simon June 15, 2015, 2:25 pm

      I’m sure Kenya has them! My wife and I are living right on border of TZ/Kenya and are currently squeezing them out :s left our clothes on the line near some bushes.

      • Ian August 3, 2017, 4:35 pm

        Living in kenya and never heard of them

  • hailey February 3, 2014, 1:34 pm

    im 12 and I was just wondering what mango worms were I heard my my mom talking about it it sounds gross I would like it if you had a picture of them because I was wondering if my cousin had some please write back ASAP.

    Thank you,
    Hailey

    • phil February 3, 2014, 5:28 pm

      Hi Hailey,
      We didn’t want to put a lot of pictures here because they are quite graphic. However, you can do a simple google image search to see photos of the mango worm.

    • Emily May 21, 2018, 2:03 am

      Hey, Iā€™m twelve too and my friend at school was talking about these worms and we searched up some pictures. She said it was satisfying and I thought it was VERY GROSS!! But anyway I suggest if you donā€™t like gross thing donā€™t search it up

  • john April 2, 2014, 2:12 pm

    We have a Keets mango tree here in hawwaii, the mangos are sometimes infested with small maggots or worms, are they sub-dermal parasites as well?after reading about the african mango fly, I am turned off on Mangos. and papayas and guavas. I am not really excited about being an incubator for parasite larva no matter how good the fruit tastes, I guess I should eat only radiated “Safe store bought food?”

    • phil April 2, 2014, 5:35 pm

      Hey John,
      This parasite is mainly found in sub-saharan Africa. You shouldn’t have to worry about a thing in Hawaii!! Enjoy your mangos!!

      • Hari June 17, 2015, 9:28 am

        I actually found this blog trying to find more about the worms I came across yesterday in a mango (in India). So, the parasitic mango fly has no connection to the worms that grow inside a mango fruit? Any idea why the parasitic worm is named like that?

    • Ellen Garrison April 12, 2018, 11:54 pm

      They are not in Hawai’i unless brought over.
      The rat lungworm, however, does happen in Hawai’i…so wash all your greens in lemon juice.

  • Naomi April 20, 2014, 8:28 am

    I have been struggling with a mango worm in my let, I have tried Vaseline etc., its getting more inflamed and won’t come out, the pain is absolutely excruciating, can I put quadriderm on as I live in South Africa? The whole just seems to be getting bigger, please can someone give advise

    • Isaiah moeller July 28, 2017, 6:25 pm

      As a person who has looked this up and in comparison to a botfly, mango flies (not related to botflies) rarely have human hosts, in fact, it is by accident. Given that you have tried vaseline and it hasnt come out, i would suspect that it is a Human Bot Fly larvae, not a mango worm because human bot flies intentionally infect humans by contact, whereas mango worms infect by soil primarily. I would see a doctor. If it is a human bot fly it will get very large and painful and it is also very painful to remove because of the barbs the larvae have. I believe you would need a professional for that, as it would need serious antibiotics. I do not recommend leaving it in. Keep in mind mango fly and mango worms are not similar to bot fly in any way and bot flies will eat your skin until they are ready to come out, which is possibly evident due to the boil getting bigger, indicating very severe irritation. Botfly larvae are primarily spread by mosquito in northern if not all of south america and are common in africa as well. I advise you see a professional.

  • Naomi April 20, 2014, 8:29 am

    Does hot water help to smother the mango worm, so that they don’t get oxygen?

    • phil April 20, 2014, 9:18 am

      I don’t see why quadriderm would do any harm. It also may not bring a resolution, either. I have never heard about hot water working in this matter and I’d be worried that you could burn yourself. If it is really excruciating you should go to a medical center and have it looked at.

      • Holly August 14, 2016, 3:42 pm

        If the mango worms get too hot they explode it’s rather funny too watch but no hot water most likely will do nothing unless you soak for hours. Dr. Micha tried it with a dog and even after a half an hour all the worms were still alive.

      • Kim Starliper April 11, 2018, 11:08 pm

        I am not into watching gory videos but when it had to do with a vet having all these cases of these poor dogs with loads of these mango worms it bothered and concerned me. Can’t chemicals been sprayed so often to kill them. It makes me wish that unless people keep thier animals inside and love them enough to pay attention that no animals would live in those places. It is heart breaking

  • Marchell May 2, 2014, 8:59 am

    I have been living on the border between Namibia and South Africa for about 9 Years. Only recently (about 4weeks) my small dog got infected by these mango worms! I extracted them, but they keep appearing! We machine dry and iron all our clothes, but I fear it will only be a matter of time before one of my children or us will be hosts! is there any way we can prevent these flies from breading near our home?

    • phil May 2, 2014, 10:01 am

      Hey Marchell,
      Sorry to hear about this. Preventing the flies from breeding near your home can be tricky. You may be doing your best already (ironing your clothes). Another place that tumbu flies lay eggs is in soil contaminated with animal waste. Unfortunately, this can be harder to control. If you have any pets, you can try to clean up after them outside. Other than that, not much you can do to control the breeding of these flies!

  • Debra Reynolds November 5, 2014, 8:05 am

    Hi Phil, only just came across your website and realise the posts were from a while ago so I’m sure someone’s already pointed this out to you – the video you show has mainly botflies being extracted not mango worms, these are so different. There’s some great videos on youtube from a vet in the Gambia showing the removal of mango flies. I won’t tell you how to suck eggs but generally the mango worm is much easier to extract than the botfly. The mother fly (of the mango fly) lays her eggs on sand and soil so dogs and other domestic animals are more prone to contract them. Sorry Phil, I don’t want to step on your toes but as an RN with a special interest in tropical medicine I know how
    confusing all these parasites can be, happy travels, Deb

  • Halima Shaw December 31, 2014, 6:58 pm

    I have never had a mango worm before but it sounds scary. I went to North West Africa in Morocco last summer. But people in Morocco don’t have mango worms not even in the country side! So there’s obviously no mango worms there. I am sooooooooo glad!!!!! Over these past days I’ve watched some of the videos with poor people and animals with mango worms and I’m really like freaked out right now!!!

  • Vera-lynn January 8, 2015, 3:13 pm

    Hi Phil just moved to Ellisras [Limpopo] from Johannesburg. I saw my dog licking his rear end and saw 3 yellow pimples, my sister inlaw said I must squeeze them because it could be mango worms, which I did and true to everything got 2 out. I then saw his chest is full of lumbs and realised there are more of them and my female is licking her private parts and guess what found 3 lumps there as well. My backyard is just sand and the dogs sleep outside. What do I do to help them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • pincel January 29, 2015, 7:41 pm

    Hi. I’m fascinated with mangoworms! I wanted to know what do they eat when in the skin? If someone knows the answer, please share it with me! Thank you.

    • seanna May 29, 2015, 4:50 pm

      they feed on the tissues found in cats, dogs, and other animals. some times they are transferred via accidental touch by a fly, or from the fly itself. they “develop” inside feasting on the protein tissue.

  • Elina February 20, 2015, 3:24 pm

    HI!
    there is treatment for mango flies – TEE TREE OIL!!!! Just apply it on the spot, when it starts to itch, and continue for couple of days. the oil kills the maggots. the very young maggots will disappear at all. the bigger ones will be killed but you have to squeeze them out anyway or wait, while your body will eliminate them.
    also Tee Tree homeopathic remedy is killing the maggots. this one you take orally!
    good luck!

  • cherise wilkens April 15, 2015, 10:31 am

    I have children a girl 4 years and a boy 2 years. My son started firstly with something looking like a mosquito bite. I started swelling and getting red and itchy. I took them to docter and he told me they have impetigo. The next day my nanny phoned telling me my son has worms. I had to pop them out like a pimple and he cried so badfrom pain šŸ™ and i rmoved 4 worms from his head and begin his ear. My daugter the same but removed 2. Im so afraid it will come back. It breaks my heart hurting them like this because of stupid worms. Someone told me I must just deworm my children. Will this help in any way. I also have a big lump on my butt it started with a mosquito bit but now it is red and sore and scared it is also a worm. HELP ME

  • seanna May 29, 2015, 4:42 pm

    may I ask why people who constantly go back with the same problem are allowed to keep their animals? is there no justice for the animals who have to suffer with this over and over again because their owners don’t care, or are “grossed out” by the worms.

  • toshika June 4, 2015, 11:47 pm

    what is that mangoworm in reality? I am from Mauritius and I am shocked I have never see such things on human body, can that mangoworm take people life too??

    • Holly August 14, 2016, 3:45 pm

      Hi, yes it is very possible for mango worms to kill people. It is highly unlikely though because humans tend to sleep in beds with clean sheets and not on the dirt outside.

  • Liz Nix June 22, 2015, 8:15 am

    Eat mangos with mango worms in them, while in the Philippines. Will the acid stomach in my stomach kill the worms?

    • Hai Ha June 27, 2015, 3:17 am

      For sure Liz, the pH in your stomach falls between 2-2,5 and that’s pretty high you can even melt some metal.
      But for the love of god check your food before consuming them.

      • Holly August 14, 2016, 3:49 pm

        This one is interesting, because the exo skeleton will remain undigested though.

  • Margot August 15, 2015, 5:43 pm

    I just watched a video in which a veterinary hospital in Ghana (?) was removing tons of these worms from a stray dog – and then letting the dog eat them????? I had to turn it off, it was so gross. Wouldn’t that keep the cycle going on and on in the poor thing?

    • Holly August 14, 2016, 3:39 pm

      Hi, actually dogs and other animals will eat mango worms and enjoy the taste. When eating the worms the dogs chew them killing them so all that remains after digestion is the exoskeleton.

    • Nana April 26, 2018, 8:07 pm

      Mango worms are edible. Dogs and humans can eat it without any side effects. Plus it feeds on the skin not in the body so there’s no way the cycle can continue

  • Rylee Vincent October 2, 2015, 9:11 pm

    Hi! I just want to know where these are found.

    • phil October 3, 2015, 5:55 am

      They are endemic to sub-saharan Africa. Central Africa, in particular.

  • Winnie October 23, 2015, 9:59 am

    Hullo,
    I squeezed out a mango worm fro my skin 2 days back.but the area is still swollen and when i press it clear fluids with little blood come out.
    What could be the problem and what should i do?
    Please help.

    • phil October 23, 2015, 1:05 pm

      Hi Winnie, you could have an infection, which would require some antibiotics. I would go see a doctor and get a professional recommendation.
      Cheers,
      Phil

    • shirl June 19, 2016, 10:49 am

      I am also worried because my son’s swelling has never cleared after removal of the worm since December last year. No pain though but its itchy sometimes.

  • Jullena December 21, 2015, 9:42 am

    Hi phill!! My name is Jullena um just wondering with mango worms if the animals have them for too long can it kill them or give any type of disease of risking more of death ? If not could explain the details of why and if yes please do the same

    Cheers

  • mc January 16, 2016, 9:50 am

    I found mango larvae in my frozen mangos. Are injesting frozen larvae harmful to human health?

  • Savannah January 22, 2016, 12:46 am

    May I ask if you know any way of preventing them for any pets? I’ve seen a lot of videos with serious cases with many dogs and I know almost any animal can be infected with them. I’m just concerned for my dogs’ safety and the safety of other pets out there.

  • Mcadu February 18, 2016, 1:19 pm

    Hi from Ghana I just squeezed out dozens of maggots from my eight puppies are they mangoworms I have a mango tree in my house should I cut it down to avoid it from happening again and also not getting infected myself?

    • phil February 19, 2016, 3:31 am

      HI, even if the mango trees are gone, you can still have mango worms around. Your best bet is to try to prevent your dogs from spending extensive time laying on the earth. Hard to do, I know, but that is likely how the mango worms are infesting your dogs.

      • Jacob April 21, 2016, 7:54 am

        Hi Phil, I’m currently started working in Tanzania /East Africa January 2016 as an Expat, on my first rotation I got bitten by a Sakspinnekop / can’t find the English translation for that spider, on my bum….but had to go for surgery to get the dead tissue cut out, now on my 2nd round out I’ve got.bitten again, this time on my knee.After 2 days I pressed it and stuff came out, my leg is quite swollen and is warm..I came to see Ć  Doctor in Dar es Salaam yesterday who told me it’s a Mango fly…they done a blood test to check the infection and he says it should be around 1 but my count is almost an 8…I got medication but it looks like my legs swollen more….will this make the treatment longer as I’m quite worried about the size of my leg..Calf size is close to 30mm bigger in size…Please advise.

  • Karen Gray March 22, 2016, 4:55 pm

    Hi Phil,
    I live on a farm in Pretoria, South Africa. My 4 month old puppy had 3 larvea, that I pulled out. I have 3 other dogs that has no bumps on their skin at all, their coats are shiny and healthy. I wonder if the tick and flea dip I’m using on them, could be a deterent for the mango larvea ? The pup is still too young to dip? And another thing… We shouldn’t have mango flies in this part of South Africa, should we ?

  • Clara March 23, 2016, 12:58 pm

    Hi I’m 13 and I’m thinking about putting mango worms into my book, I just wanted to make sure people could get them and how they would get them. Thanks

  • Natalie April 21, 2016, 9:00 pm

    Hi, while living in Uganda my daughter got a mango worm that we squeezed out and all is good, but, every now and again the spot where it was becomes swollen again and looks white as if there is still one in there? Just today my daughter Shen me that it’s swollen again so I covered it with Vaseline but I couldn’t see it move but can feel a little lump and see a small white spot. So, I tried squeezing it out but nothing! And now the swelling is disappearing? Could the worm still be there and travel around the body then reappear? We thought it was all gone because this first happened at least 8 months ago.
    Any ideas?

  • kathryn May 30, 2016, 5:06 pm

    Hi Mr phil…am from Nigeria, I had the same thing started like a mosquito bite it became red with pox and itching at first I tot it was chickenpox I went to a chemist got ampiclouse (antibiotics) and drugs for chickenpox, then I later bust them and saw maggots coming out I was so scared, up on till now am still scared, Pls do I still need to go for a check up?.

  • Kim Blatnick August 15, 2016, 3:55 am

    Hi I am in the USA. (Utah) just over 2 weeks ago we went camping and came home. I bathes my digs when we got home and found a lump that looked like something was inside him. I feared it was a tick and took him to the vet. The nurses wouldn’t let me have vwt examine my dog because they said it was simply a ingrown hair and to put neosporine. I dis all of this and 6 days later his lump was bigger and I squeezed it and a worm popped out. It looks identical to the Mango worm. It feels like there is one or two more inside but nothing will come out and the vet won’t work with is on cost and I can’t come up with this kind if funding. Is it possible that it could be Mango worms?? How do i get the others out if i can still feel what feels like at least two more inside him… Please I really could use some advice. I am freaking out here.

  • michele September 3, 2016, 7:46 pm

    help? it is now 2016, is there any preventative for dogs and cats. to prevent mango worms in the first place. i have been told that the nexgard and bravecto brands of deflea work is that true? does imacloprid, permethrin, or fipronil work???? HELP

  • Helen September 13, 2016, 10:48 pm

    So, even if the worms are not squeezed out they will eventually fall out on its own? For this very reason I will never visit Africa or any other country that this is prevalent. I couldn’t handle squeezing anything live from my body!

    • Ken November 29, 2018, 8:43 pm

      Not even a child? Couldnā€™t resist

  • dedndogyrs September 28, 2016, 10:43 am

    It’s my understanding that mango worms have nothing to do with mango trees or mangos.

  • Tami October 15, 2016, 9:37 pm

    How about after removing them using hydrogen peroxide and then polysporin (not neosporin) to avoid bacterial infection..
    The photos in the background here are of a parasite probably plasmodium and carried by mosquitoes. They are much more dangerous than mangoworms, but avoid both.

    Tami

  • sarah b October 20, 2016, 6:23 am

    I had pin wiorm as a child. I used the pin worm mrdicine. Over the counter. They sell this medicine at a lot of stores that sell mrdice. It itchy. I’m glad the nedicine works and got rid of thr pin worms. I wwon’t go to places that have these parasites. In india the have the gohngi worms. I don’t want to deal with a worm crawly around my body and butt.

  • Nikki January 11, 2017, 2:23 pm

    Im a very clean person with tons of acne medicine and nothing seems to work, my face has been covered in painful scarring acne since I have been 9 . I’m 25 now and I have tried pro active and everything, I feel like there’s a parasite in there like a worm laying eggs and making me break out,, and nothing seems to work, i even use dobe soap, is it possible that it’s not acne, but some thing worse

  • Carolyn April 10, 2017, 10:14 pm

    Hi, I’m 13 years old and I found this lump on my ankle and thought it was just a mosquito bite, but then about a week later, I squeezed it accidentally and this white thing came out and I’m pretty sure it is a mango worm. How do I treat this?

  • Kim May 2, 2017, 12:21 pm

    I live in South Florida and from what I am gathering mango worms are something that are not prevalent in this area… Am I correct in making this assumption??? I have planted two different breeds ofamgo in my backyard and have a small dog that I am most concerned about. Thank you in advance for your help.

    • phil May 9, 2017, 6:53 am

      No, they are not prevalent in Florida. You would have to be incredibly unlucky, basically stumbling across tumbu flies that would have hitched a ride on someone from far off. Very unlikely.

  • Sandra May 26, 2017, 5:41 pm

    Hello,
    I did not know about mango fly until now. In was in Northern Uganda about a week ago, a few days after I can back I got bruises on my button and they were itchy and turned red. I applied an anti fungal cream thinking it was a water or change of weather reaction… I was shocked when I squeezed one of the bulbs coz it was so itchy and had pus and a little worm popped out…so gross…I wanted to cream…I them landed on this info because I was trying to find out what effect that could have. Going to see a doctor first thing tomorrow to see if there anymore.
    Thanks Phill..
    Sandra

  • Sabrinacarr July 25, 2017, 10:23 pm

    Hi my name is sabrina i live in california. I love mangos but my mom told me that she saw a worm inside a mango i had in the kitchen and that if i would have eaten it by mistake multipul worms would have riddled my hole body and i would have died. Is this true.

    • phil September 17, 2017, 5:40 am

      No, that’s absolutely not true.

  • Isaiah moeller July 28, 2017, 6:43 pm

    I have done research on both mango flies and even the completely different botfly and came up with these differences:
    Mango flies are transmitted through the adult fly laying offspring in the ground, where they can stay there for up to 7-14 days. They do not intentionally infect humans as hosts, and it is rare although not impossible to have gotten one by accident by chance. Mango worms are fairly easy to extract and can be removed by cutting off the oxygen it breathes with petroleum jelly, and presumably similar things you would use to suffocate a tick to remove it. At that point, it will be forced to emerge to the surface, and it will not remove itself; meaning you must grab it. Again; the chances of this happening are rare, and in fact mostly occur with parts of the body in common contact with the ground (buttocks, feet, legs, and the like) they very rarely cause diseases and only create boils.
    The Human Botfly, intentionally infects humans. Here is how it works: the adult botfly transmits its offspring to humans by catching a mosquito, then laying an egg on it, and releasing it along with its unwanted passenger, otherwise unharmed. The mosquito will bite a human (which is obviously common) or mammal, and the passenger will fall onto the skin and through the puncture wound the mosquito makes, now irrelevant and gone, will find its way under your skin, developing a boil,
    This is because it causes major irritation and will start to eat the inner tissue under your skin, feeding on your body to grow, which in turn makes the boil larger and much more painful. Botfly larvae cause many diseases associated with mosquitos. However, the chances of them being transmitted is dependant on how long they have been under the skin. The larvae causes extreme pain, and should not be taken out by anyone other than a doctor, as improper extraction can occur, and cause a part of the larvae to remain under the skin, causing a very severe infection. They are also very painful to remove due to the barbs that are located along the sides of the body creating a ring in several points along the length of the body. If you have a larvae inside your body, it will get significantly larger and i recommend not popping the boil until it is to be taken out. Doing otherwise will/may cause infection.

  • Essie August 30, 2017, 8:05 pm

    I lived in Nigeria for 26 years, never heard of mango worms and never been infested neither did my pets. It’s strange how this is now so common. Is this a new infestation going on or did it just got worse.
    I know Botfly is a native of south and Central America, never known it to be an African problem until now

  • Paul September 2, 2017, 3:13 pm

    I just removed 2 worms from my son’s body. This is really freaking me out. But reading all d comments I know he will be fine.

  • Nada September 15, 2017, 11:24 am

    how to protect dogs from mango worm ???

  • Dania October 11, 2017, 7:25 pm

    It really pisses me off that you dont give the puppy in the video above something for the pain before squizing out worms!!

    Pissed off greetings from Sweden

    • phil October 11, 2017, 7:37 pm

      hi Dania,
      It is not our video, but available public on youtube. You could try to contact the video author. I do understand the concern.
      Take care,
      Phil

  • Graca October 30, 2017, 11:33 pm

    Hi…my name is Graca. I’m 20 and and from South Africa.I also share the same experiences. I’m totally freaking out and I’m not enjoying being in my body lately. At first I thought it was mosquito bites, until they grew big. So as I was about to bath, I popped one out of five bumps. To my surprise it was a worm. I couldn’t pop the rest as I am quite scared of worms and the thought of it being right under my skin was terrifying. My mum had the same experience and was able to explain it to me. so then I had the guts of popping the rest. But I still don’t like the discomfort I’m getting from my skin. How do I get over such an experience???

    • phil November 17, 2017, 3:01 am

      Hi Graca,
      I would get yourself to a clinic as soon as possible in order to get a proper diagnosis.
      Cheers,
      Phil

  • deborah November 8, 2017, 3:00 am

    These are videos made by Dr Meyer in his clinic in The Gambia. DO you have permission to use?? He gets donations off his video to help with needs at the clinic and stealing his content would be wrong. Just so you know.

    • phil November 17, 2017, 3:01 am

      Hi Deborah,
      We are not stealing the video as it is a public video on youtube likely updated by the Dr. himself. If he wants the video to be private (which I don’t think he does), he can easily select this option within youtube, so that it will not be possible to embed the video to a website.
      Cheers,
      Phil

  • James Brogan December 2, 2017, 5:56 am

    About 20 years ago I had a mango worm in my back whist visiting Kinshasa.
    A friend who was working for an oil company directed me to a clinic in the city.
    The worm was easily removed using vaseline, but but I had serious swelling and redness in the area from the middle of my back to under my left arm.
    The doctor prescribed strong antibiotics and she told me that that I must complete the course fully, otherwise ‘ You will get septicemia and die’. It was a powerful message, may have been overstated, but nonetheless got my attention.
    It took about 10 days for the swelling to go down and I was fine afterwards.
    I think that anybdy with a mango worm under their skin should see a doctor as soon as they can.
    Three years ago I developed Uveitis, and looking at web pages on the subject of mango worms I wonder if there is any connection and if there ia anything in this connection that can help my Uveitis treatment

  • Lu February 13, 2018, 8:28 am

    I just had my first run in with these critters and made the mistake of pushing them out before they were ready. I have about 30 little worm dwellings on my left leg and I can tell you that it is not fun! Just hoping that the wounds will heal thoroughly… I think I got them from hanging my bed covers out to dry. The perks of living in South Africa I guess.. Thanks for the insightful post.

  • Amaka July 5, 2018, 11:38 am

    Hi, I would have loved to see the graphics so as to compare with what came out of a boil squeezed out on my daughter’s skin on her thigh, I was scared but this article gave me a relief just now, I have to do more on her hygiene and nutrition. Thanks for the useful article

  • naina sajid khan September 2, 2018, 3:11 pm

    iam.surprised to see this worm in human skin I gave all information about it to all my best related person but iam not sure is it here in pakistan or not.plz confirm me iam waiting ur reply

  • Tina February 19, 2019, 11:49 pm

    I am so grossed out by this! I just came from urgent care where they pulled out one of these things from my skin! I went back home (Ghana) to visit my parents and 2 days later developed an itch that I thought came from a bug bite. I later thought it was a boil but yesterday my husband says there is something hanging as he was dressing my sore and pulls this worm looking thing out! I wish I could upload the pictures. Anyway, I start doing research which leads me to mango worms. Mind you I still have another one in my back and it hurts like hell. Went to urgent care and they squeeze and remove it. My skin is still crawling as I think about it! I’ve been given some antibiotics. Never heard of this until yesterday! WTF!

  • wuji Liu March 4, 2019, 8:28 am

    The worm infested you is not a mangoworm.
    It is a botfly worm. Botflyļ¼ˆDermatobia hominisļ¼‰ also distribute in Africa and use mosquitos as their eggs vetors. Mangofly do not use any vectors.

  • Martha May 13, 2019, 5:31 am

    Helo there ..yeah I just went through the mango worm or maggot whatever they call it ..it was horrible I suffered a whole week with a fever and I thought I had a boil ..and I kept waiting for it to pop all in vain ..I kept pressing it eventually and last night I couldnā€™t take it anymore just wanted the blood to come out and pus..but nothing ..Iā€™d been feeling the pain Panges in my thigh and was so itchy ..so I tried the hot bottle trick and then I saw the worm wiggle and I was so shocked ..I pressed it out till it came out and I could see it moving and I was so freaked out …I probably got a bite by the fly when I went zipling in the forest two weeks ago ..and I just didnā€™t realize ..Iā€™ve never seen anyone my whole time growing up with Such a thing .iam just glad itā€™s all over ..I hope thereā€™s no more wormsin my thigh
    Iam from Uganda so this is rare..didnā€™t even go to the hospital .Iam just hoping it heals soon so I can get a scar remover and start applying on the scar ..itā€™s under my thighs and I donā€™t like it honestly
    But nice finding all these information on the site about it

Cancel reply

Leave a Comment