Four-inch worm hatches in woman’s forehead, wriggles to her eyelid
The parasite, typically found in dogs, was visibly moving under her skin.
TL;DR
- A living 11 cm round worm was removed from a woman's left eyelid in Romania.
- The worm was identified as *Dirofilaria repens*, a parasite spread by mosquito bites.
- Humans are generally considered dead-end hosts, with infections typically presenting as subcutaneous nodules or wandering worms.
- *Dirofilaria repens* is not present in the US but is found in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- Climate change and globalization may be contributing to the worm's spread into new European areas.
- There is speculation that the worms may be adapting to use humans as a true host, though this is rare.
- The US has related species like *D. immitis* (dog heartworm) and *D. tenuis* that can occasionally infect humans.
- Treatment typically involves surgical removal of the worm and may include anti-parasitic or antibiotic drugs.