In a disturbing incident that highlights one of the most unsettling scenarios for entomophobes, a 58-year-old man from Haikou, Hainan Province, China, found himself grappling with a nightmare after a cockroach lodged itself in his trachea.
The ordeal began when the man woke up one night to an unsettling sensation of something crawling up his nose. Despite his efforts to cough and dislodge the intruding object, he was unable to remove it and fell back asleep. The next day, he dismissed the strange experience and continued with his routine. However, over the following three days, he began to notice a persistent foul odor emanating from his breath, despite maintaining rigorous oral hygiene. Additionally, he experienced persistent coughing and yellow sputum, prompting him to seek medical advice.
📌 Dr. Hakan Akelma, bronşundan hamam böceği çıkan hastayı paylaştı:
“İlginç vakalarda bugün. Trakeostomisi olan hastanın sağ ana bronşunda beklenmedik bir davetsiz misafir: Hamamböceği.” pic.twitter.com/uR7K6HLTMh
— 23 DERECE (@yirmiucderece) February 25, 2024
Initially consulting an ENT specialist at a local hospital in Hainan, the man was relieved when no abnormalities were found in his upper respiratory tract. Despite this, the symptoms persisted, leading him to Dr. Lin Ling, a respiratory and critical care physician. Dr. Lin ordered a chest CT scan, which revealed an unusual shadow in the posterior basal segment of the right lower lung lobe, suggesting the presence of a foreign object.
A bronchoscopy was performed to identify the mysterious shadow. “During the procedure, I clearly saw something with wings in the bronchus,” Dr. Lin reported. The foreign object, encased in a significant amount of phlegm, was eventually identified as a cockroach.
The cockroach was carefully removed, and the trachea was thoroughly cleaned. Following the procedure, the man’s foul breath vanished, and he made a full recovery. He was discharged the following day, relieved to have the disturbing episode behind him.
Dr. Lin emphasized the rarity of such cases but advised anyone who suspects they have a foreign body lodged in their respiratory tract to seek immediate medical attention. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing unusual respiratory symptoms promptly to avoid potentially serious complications.
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