A shocking discovery in a routine procedure
In 2019, a 59-year-old man went in for a routine colonoscopy and walked out with one of the strangest medical records ever. During the exam, doctors discovered a live seven-spot ladybird crawling inside his colon.
The case was so unusual that gastroenterologist Francis E. Dailey published it in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
How did the insect survive?
Doctors believe the bug avoided destruction by stomach acids thanks to the colonoscopy prep solution the patient had consumed beforehand. The man had been asked to drink a liter of polyethylene glycol, a compound used to clear out the intestines before the exam.
According to Dailey, this may have allowed the insect to “escape from digestive enzymes in the stomach and upper small intestine,” giving it a rare chance to survive the human digestive system.
A medical first
The unusual finding was spotted by Dr. Keith Siau, who admitted it was a discovery no one in the field expected. While doctors are trained to look for polyps, blockages, or ulcers, a ladybug crawling around the colon was definitely not on the list.
The internet reacts
The bizarre case has since gone viral, with many joking about the incident online. Some users dubbed it the ultimate “stomach bug,” while others were simply stunned that the insect managed to stay alive in such an environment.
