Trending Now - Woman Sneezes 'worms' Due to Rare Infection Mystery

WHO:

Live Science - A 58-year-old woman in Greece.

WHAT:

Live Science - The woman developed pain around the center of her face that grew progressively worse, followed by a severe cough.

Live Science - The woman sneezed out "worms" from her nose, prompting her to seek medical attention.

Live Science - An ear, nose, and throat specialist surgically removed 10 larvae and one pupa from her maxillary sinuses.

Live Science - The larvae included one that was pale yellow and about 0.6 inches (15 millimeters) long, and another that was light brown and 0.8 inches (20 millimeters) long.

Live Science - The woman was diagnosed with "O. ovis nasal myiasis with pupation."

Live Science - Following treatment, the woman made a "complete recovery."

WHERE:

Live Science - The incident occurred on a Greek island, near a field with grazing sheep.

WHEN:

Live Science - The symptoms began approximately two to three weeks before the woman sought medical attention.

WHY:

Live Science - The woman worked outdoors in an area adjacent to grazing sheep, which likely contributed to her infection.

HOW:

Live Science - The larvae were surgically removed from her maxillary sinuses, and DNA analysis was conducted on the larvae.

Live Science - The authors hypothesized that the woman's severely deviated nasal septum and the high number of larvae prevented them from exiting her nose, allowing them to progress to the L3 stage and pupation.

(UPDATED April 9, 2026 07:19 UTC)

A 58-year-old woman in Greece developed severe facial pain and a cough, which led her to seek medical attention after she sneezed out worms from her nose. An ear, nose, and throat specialist surgically removed ten larvae and one pupa from her maxillary sinuses, diagnosing her with "O. ovis nasal myiasis with pupation." Fortunately, following treatment, she made a complete recovery, with the incident likely linked to her outdoor work near grazing sheep.