You might think the worst thing that could happen while you’re sleeping is a bad dream. But for one 58-year-old man in China, a real-life nightmare crawled into his nose. Then into his throat.
Yes, you read that right. A cockroach.
The man, who shall remain nameless to protect his identity (and ours), woke up one morning feeling a bit off. A tickle in his throat, a persistent cough, and a peculiar smell that wasn’t quite morning breath. He initially dismissed it as a common cold or allergies, but the symptoms lingered.
When the coughing became more severe, accompanied by yellow phlegm and an awful aroma, he decided to seek medical help. A visit to the doctor revealed no obvious culprit in his upper respiratory tract. But the doctors had a hunch that something was amiss deeper down.
After a careful examination, they discovered the source of the problem: a cockroach, snuggled up in the man’s trachea like it was a cozy little apartment.
The doctors, armed with a bronchoscope (basically, a tiny camera on a stick), embarked on a mission to evict the unwelcome guest. It wasn’t easy. The cockroach was well-camouflaged in a thick layer of phlegm, making it a tricky target. But after a few attempts, they managed to extract the intruder and give the man’s lungs a much-needed deep clean.
The patient, relieved and probably a little traumatized, made a full recovery. And as for the cockroach? Well, the roach didn’t make it.