In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, a young boy recently sought medical attention after experiencing severe ear pain and persistent ringing, only for doctors to make a shocking discovery: a live cockroach crawling deep inside his ear canal. The bizarre and alarming case has gone viral on social media, with related videos amassing millions of views.
According to the Free Press Journal, the incident occurred on October 23. The boy’s mother noticed her son frequently complaining of ear pain over several days, along with tinnitus and restless sleep, initially assuming it was a common ear infection. When they visited a local clinic, doctors used an endoscope to examine his ear and were stunned to see a live cockroach wriggling inside, causing discomfort and alarm for both the family and medical staff.
Because the cockroach was still alive and moving, it not only caused the boy intense pain but also made removal extremely challenging. To prevent the insect from damaging the eardrum or burrowing further, the doctor had to work with extreme focus and precision, using specialized forceps and suction tools. After several tense minutes, the cockroach was successfully removed intact, ending the ordeal. The physician noted that insects like cockroaches can sometimes enter human orifices attracted by temperature or food smells, especially at night while people are asleep.
After the cockroach was removed, the boy’s pain immediately subsided, and his mood gradually improved. Fortunately, there were no lasting effects on his eardrum or hearing. Doctors urged parents to maintain a clean home environment, particularly around children’s sleeping areas, and to avoid leaving food scraps or sweets nearby to prevent attracting insects.
Medical professionals also warned that if children show unexplained ear pain, itching, or ringing, they should be examined promptly, avoiding self-treatment like probing or dropping liquids into the ear, which could push foreign objects deeper and cause further injury.
The video of the cockroach extraction quickly went viral online, drawing global attention. Viewers commented things like, “Just watching this made my ears crawl,” “This is now on my list of fears,” and praised the doctor’s calm and precise technique, while others expressed sympathy for the boy, relieved that he is now safe.
