Head and neck myiasis generally affects individuals with poor hygiene habits, drug users, and individuals with neurologic and psychosocial disorders. The treatment of choice is mechanical removal of larvae and surgical debridement combined with oral ivermectin. This study provides information that could help clinicians in the diagnosis and management of this condition.

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis is an unusual infection characterized by necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and fascial layers. Risk factors for the development of necrotizing fasciitis include diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease, peripheral vascular disease, malnutrition, advanced age, obesity, alcohol abuse, intravenous drug use, surgery, and ischemic ulcers. This report presents a case of necrotizing fasciitis in the cervical area caused by dental extraction in a 73-year-old woman. Cervical necrotizing fasciitis in geriatric patient is rare, and even when establishing the diagnosis and having it timely treated, the patient can suffer irreversible damage or even death. Clinical manifestations in the head and neck usually have an acute onset characterized by severe pain, swelling, redness, erythema, presence of necrotic tissue, and in severe cases obstruction of the upper airways. Therefore, the presentation of this clinical case can serve as guidance to dentists as a precaution to maintain an aseptic chain and be aware of the clinical condition of older patients and the systemic conditions that may increase the risk of infections.

Myiasis is an infection caused by the deposition of fly larvae in tissues, and its involvement in the human oral cavity is uncommon. Herein, we have performed a data analysis of published cases of oral myiasis. A search was performed in PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, Scopus, and LILACS. Geographic distribution, demographic data, associated factors, clinical features, fly types, treatment, and presence of sequelae were analyzed. A total of 122 articles reported the cases of 157 infected individuals. The most affected countries were India (41%) and Brazil (29.5%). Male predominance (67.5%) and a mean of 41.9 years of age were observed. The gingiva (29%) was the most affected site, followed by palate (25%) and lip (21%). There were different forms and combinations of treatments: manual removal of larvae and surgical debridement, application of asphyxiating substances, antibiotic therapy, and use of ivermectin. The condition predominantly affects individuals with neurological and/or locomotor disabilities, of low socioeconomic status, with poor oral hygiene and chemical dependence and individuals with previous injuries or with the absence of lip sealing. The establishment of a standard treatment protocol, enabling comparison in future studies and providing uniformity in treatment strategies offered by health services is strongly recommended.

BackgroundArnold Chiari malformation (ACM) is characterized by an anatomical defect at the base of the skull where the cerebellum and the spinal cord herniate through the foramen magnum into the cervical spinal canal. Among the subtypes of the condition, ACM type I (ACM-I) is particularly outstanding because of the severity of symptoms. This study aimed to analyze the orofacial clinical manifestations of patients with ACM-I, and discuss their demographic distribution and clinical features in light of the literature.Material and MethodsA case series with patients with ACM-I treated between 2012 and 2015 was described. The sample consisted of patients who were referred by the Department of Neurosurgery to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service of Hospital da Restauração in Brazil for the assessment of facial symptomatology. A questionnaire was applied to evaluate the presence of painful orofacial findings. Data are reported using descriptive statistical methods.ResultsMean patient age was 39.3 years and the sample consisted mostly of male patients. A high prevalence of headache (50%) and pain in the neck (66.7%) and masticatory muscles (50%) was found. Only one patient reported difficulty in performing mandibular movements and two reported jaw clicking sounds. Mean mouth opening was 40.83 mm.ConclusionsACM-I patients may exhibit orofacial symptoms which may mimic temporomandibular joint disorders. This study brings interesting information that could help clinicians and oral and maxillofacial surgeons to understand this uncommon condition and also help with the diagnosis of patients with similar physical characteristics by referring them to a neurosurgeon. Key words:Arnold-Chiari malformation, facial pain, diagnosis, orofacial.