However, if a person has ingested maggots through eating spoiled food, they may be at risk of food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning can range from very mild to serious, and they can sometimes last for several days. Maggots, otherwise known as fly larvae, are, of course, famous for eating the flesh of dead animals, and in this they perform a vital, if unglamorous, cleansing function in nature. But also — less often — maggots can infest and feed on the flesh of live animals and humans, a phenomenon known as myiasis.
Maggots are the larvae of flies and are said to be capable of surviving temperatures up to 50 degrees. Her articles have appeared in a variety of newspapers and magazines as well as on websites. She is a court-appointed special advocate and is certified in crisis counseling and child and infant nutrition. She holds degrees in developmental psychology and philosophy from Georgia State University.
Monitor the health of your community here. More Articles. Diseases and Injuries. Written by Brenna Davis. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. If maggots have developed on a particular food, it generally indicates the food is unsafe for human consumption 2.
People who eat this contaminated food or the larvae will also get exposure to the bacteria and may become unwell. Salmonella and Escherichia coli are examples of bacteria that flies and maggots may transmit to humans. Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness. Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include :. Symptoms typically begin between 12 and 72 hours after a person ingests the bacteria, and the illness usually lasts for 4 to 7 days.
People with Salmonella poisoning often get better without treatment. However, frequent vomiting and diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and, sometimes, hospitalization. It is, therefore, important for people with Salmonella poisoning to drink plenty of liquid, including clear broths and fruit juices, to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
There are many different strains of E. Although most strains are harmless, some can cause a person to become very sick. Symptoms of E. These symptoms usually develop between 1 and 10 days after ingesting the bacteria and may last for 5—7 days. As with Salmonella poisoning, it is essential for people to drink plenty of liquid to prevent dehydration. Myiasis occurs when a person becomes infested with fly larvae. The larvae live on or inside the person and survive by feeding off their tissues.
Intestinal myiasis is a type of myiasis that can occur when a person ingests larvae that survive inside the gastrointestinal tract. Some people with intestinal myiasis do not experience any symptoms and may only realize that they have an infestation after noticing larvae in their stools. Myiasis is not common in the United States and mainly tends to occur in tropical and subtropical countries, including some of those in Africa and South America.
However, people can get myiasis from traveling to these countries. Accidentally ingesting maggots does not generally cause any lasting harm. However, if a person has ingested maggots through eating spoiled food, they may be at risk of food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning can range from very mild to serious, and they can sometimes last for several days.
People with a higher risk of developing food poisoning include :. It is essential for people who develop severe vomiting and diarrhea from food poisoning to drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration. A person should see a doctor if any of the following signs and symptoms occur after ingesting maggots:.
Many people in countries outside of Europe and North America eat insects. Scientists estimate that there are close to 2, species of edible insect. As well as the insects themselves, the eggs and larvae of certain species are edible.
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