Based on the image you've provided, it appears to be depicting the extraction of a botfly larva from human skin.
This condition is known as cutaneous myiasis. It's an infestation of the skin by the larval stage (maggot) of a fly. The species most commonly associated with this in humans, especially in Central and South America, is the human botfly, Dermatobia hominis.
How Does This Happen?
The botfly has a fascinating and somewhat unsettling life cycle:
Egg Laying: An adult female botfly does not lay her eggs directly on a human. Instead, she captures a blood-sucking insect, like a mosquito or a tick, and attaches her eggs to its body.
Transfer to Host: When the mosquito bites a warm-blooded host (like a human), the warmth of the host's body triggers the botfly eggs to hatch instantly.
Burrowing: The tiny larvae then drop onto the skin and enter the host through the mosquito bite wound or by burrowing directly into the skin or a hair follicle.
Symptoms and Development
Once under the skin, the larva develops over 5 to 12 weeks. It creates a firm, raised lesion, often called a "warble." This lesion has a small central opening, called a punctum, which the larva uses to breathe.
Symptoms can include:
A feeling of movement under the skin.
Intermittent, sharp, or stinging pains.
Discharge of fluid from the central opening.
Extraction Methods
The goal is to remove the larva completely and without breaking it. Squeezing the lesion, as suggested in the photo, is generally discouraged by medical professionals.
Why squeezing is risky:
Rupturing the larva: Crushing the larva can release its proteins into the host's body, which can trigger a significant inflammatory or allergic reaction.
Incomplete removal: Parts of the larva's body might be left behind, leading to infection.
Common medical removal techniques:
Surgical Removal: A doctor can apply local anesthetic, slightly enlarge the breathing hole with a scalpel, and then use forceps to gently pull the larva out.
Occlusion: The breathing hole can be covered with a thick substance like petroleum jelly or even bacon fat (a traditional remedy). This suffocates the larva, forcing it to migrate upwards and out of the hole to breathe, making it easier to grab and remove.
If you ever suspect you have a botfly larva, it is highly recommended to see a medical professional for safe and complete removal to avoid complications.