A reader recently reached out to us after she was bit by a worm. She said the worm “looks like a maggot but has a black dot on its head.” Our reader wants to know what to do after being bit.

First, we aren’t sure which type of creature our reader was bit by. Maggots themselves aren’t even worms, they are fly larvae. So if our reader was bit by a maggot, or a creature similar to a maggot, she might have been bit by a larva, like a caterpillar (moth larva) or grub (beetle larva). Or, she might have been bit by a worm that resembles a larvae. Our main point is that we don’t know what kind of creature bit our reader, since worms can look like larvae and larvae can look like worms, and we don’t have much of a description or a picture to base the identification on. All in all, the treatment for a worm bite versus a maggot bite is not very different in most cases.

We think our reader should start by thoroughly cleaning the site of the wound, applying antiseptic, and covering it with a band aid. That is likely all she needs to do about this situation. If our reader suddenly has an onset of symptoms, or develops a rash near the area, she should go see a doctor immediately. In general, if she feels uneasy about the bite, we encourage her to make an appointment with a doctor just to make sure everything is okay. We aren’t medical professionals, and therefore are not licensed to give medical advice!

To sum up, one of our readers asked us what to do after getting bit by a maggot. We think she should clean the wound, and see if a doctor if she is nervous about it! That being said, the world isn’t a Marvel comic…we don’t think she will suddenly turn into a maggot after being bit by one!

 

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