Fly Found Inside Man’s Intestines Alive and Well
During a routine colonoscopy in a hospital in Missouri, doctors were stunned to discover a fly, intact and alive, inside a patient’s intestines. The patient was equally perplexed and had no idea how the visitor made its way inside to enjoy his dinner.
By Richard Cole · November 23, 2023
Doctors in Missouri, US, were left scratching their heads after discovering a fully intact and alive fly inside a patient’s intestines during a routine colonoscopy. The 63-year-old man had gone in for a routine colon cancer screening when the unexpected guest made its grand entrance.
The colonoscopy procedure was moving along smoothly until the doctors reached the transverse colon, located at the top of the large intestine. To their astonishment, they came face to face with a fly, seemingly enjoying a leisurely stroll through the patient’s innards. How the fly managed to get there is nothing short of a mystery, leaving the medical team utterly baffled.
The team of doctors, hailing from the prestigious University of Missouri School of Medicine, were so astounded by the encounter that they published their findings in the esteemed American Journal of Gastroenterology. They described the case as a “very rare colonoscopic finding” and pondered over the enigma of how the fly ended up in the transverse colon.
The patient, who had no prior symptoms, was equally perplexed by the situation. He claimed to have consumed only clear liquids the day before the procedure, as instructed to empty his digestive tract. The evening before the 24-hour fast, he enjoyed a meal consisting of pizza and lettuce, but he adamantly denied any knowledge of a fly joining him for dinner.
While it is exceptionally rare, there have been previous instances of flies and their larvae infesting the human intestines, a condition known as intestinal myiasis. However, for this peculiar phenomenon to occur, individuals would typically have to ingest food containing fly eggs and larvae. In some extraordinary cases, the eggs can survive stomach acid, hatch, and continue their journey within the body. Rotten bananas have been previously implicated in such incidents, proving that even fruit can have a mischievous side.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that patients with intestinal myiasis may experience a range of symptoms, from abdominal pain to vomiting and diarrhea. However, some lucky individuals may remain blissfully unaware of their uninvited guests.
As for the University of Missouri School of Medicine, they declined to provide further commentary on this peculiar case, leaving us all to marvel at the mysteries of the human body and the adventures of its unexpected visitors.