8-Year-Old Girl Vomits Live Insects for a Month... Bathroom Pest Identified as Cause

Bathroom Dampness Suspected as Infection Route
Expert: "Larvae Proliferate Rapidly During Monsoon Season... Inspections Essential"

An incident in China where an 8-year-old girl vomited live insects for several weeks has shocked many. Medical staff identified the larvae of household pests living in the family's bathroom as the cause.

In China, an 8-year-old girl shocked many by vomiting live insects for a month.

According to local media such as Sohu News on June 19, a child living in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, vomited insects from her body periodically for about a month. Several larvae, each about 1 cm in length, were expelled at a time, and even antiparasitic medication proved ineffective.

The family visited several hospitals in the area before a children's hospital identified the cause of the problem. The attending physician diagnosed the girl as being infected with drain fly larvae and proceeded with treatment using specialized medication to eliminate the parasites.

Drain flies are pests that prefer damp and dark places and typically inhabit bathroom drains, wall crevices, and areas around toilets. The affected child's family explained that drain flies frequently appeared in their home bathroom.

The Yangzhou city health authorities warned that children could become infected through droplets containing larvae during activities such as brushing teeth or washing their face. They recommended removing moisture and maintaining strict hygiene, especially during the rainy season.

To prevent indoor pest infestations, it is effective to frequently wipe areas where water accumulates and to cover unused drains with stoppers. Using hot water or diluted bleach when cleaning pipes can help suppress the breeding of larvae.

There have been no reported cases of infection caused by drain flies in Korea. However, last year in Shenzhen, China, a man had to undergo eye removal surgery after an infection worsened when he rubbed his eye with a hand that had caught a drain fly. Experts advise avoiding direct physical contact with pests such as drain flies and strictly adhering to hygiene guidelines.