Meaning & use
myiasis
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablemedicaltechnical
A medical condition in which fly larvae live and feed inside the body tissues of a person or animal.
Grammar: Usually uncountable; it is often used with 'a case of' to talk about one instance.
Patterns
- myiasis in something
- a case of myiasis
- cutaneous myiasis
The doctor said the wound had become infected with myiasis after the patient returned from a tropical region.
In rural areas with poor sanitation, myiasis can affect livestock during the warm months.
Cutaneous myiasis is the form in which larvae develop under the skin and cause painful lumps.
Common combinations
- a case of myiasis
- The clinic reported a rare case of myiasis in a traveler.
- cutaneous myiasis
- Cutaneous myiasis is treated by removing the larvae from the skin.
- myiasis infection
- The wound culture ruled out a myiasis infection.
- cause myiasis
- Certain flies can cause myiasis in open wounds.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fly strike
- Common in veterinary contexts, especially for sheep; myiasis is the broader medical term for any tissue infestation by fly larvae.
- larval infestation
- A general description rather than a specific diagnosis; myiasis names the condition precisely.
Word family
- myiatic adjective
- Relating to or caused by myiasis.
Commonly confused: myiasis or myasis? myiasis or miasis?
myiasis vs myasis
A common misspelling; the correct spelling is myiasis, with an extra i after the y.
myiasis vs miasis
Another misspelling; the standard spelling is myiasis.
Practice
The veterinarian confirmed that the sheep's wound was infested with fly larvae, a condition known as ______.
Choose one answer.
Myiasis is the correct medical term for infestation by fly larvae. 'Myasis' and 'miasis' are misspellings. 'Myositis' means inflammation of muscle, which is a different condition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “myiasis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.