According to information published on July 1 in the South China Morning Post , the girl began vomiting a handful of maggots about 1cm long from the beginning of 2025. The girl's father said that no one else in the family had experienced a similar condition.
1cm long maggots living in the body of an 8-year-old girl (Photo: SCMP).
The family took the girl to many local hospitals, but doctors could not determine the cause. Despite being given deworming medicine, her condition did not improve much, leaving the family and medical staff bewildered.
Progress only came when the baby was transferred to the Children's Hospital of Suzhou University, where Dr. Zhang Bingbing suggested that the family take biological samples to the Yangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for analysis.
Tests quickly identified the culprit as the larvae of drain flies, also known as moth flies. These insects typically breed in moist environments such as sewers, toilets, and kitchens, and are especially prevalent in the summer.
Butterflies often breed in humid environments, especially in summer (Photo: SCMP).
Xu Yuhui, director of the Yangzhou CDC, said that the drain fly larvae may have entered the family's water supply. "When children brush their teeth or use toilet water, the larvae can enter their bodies through the water," he explained.
The family later recalled seeing the tiny, hairy flies in their home, but did not think they were dangerous. This is not the first time the Chinese CDC has recorded a similar case; a 60-year-old woman was previously infected with drain fly larvae.
Although sewer flies do not transmit blood-borne diseases, they can still carry harmful bacteria. Mr. Xu warned that killing sewer flies with your hands can leave bacteria on your skin, which can easily enter your body if you rub your eyes or eat without washing your hands thoroughly.
To get rid of drain flies, people should use boiling water mixed with salt and baking soda to treat the drain. However, the most effective measure is still to keep the toilet and kitchen clean and dry, limiting the breeding environment of insects.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/be-gai-lien-tuc-non-ra-doi-khien-bac-si-boi-roi-tim-nguyen-nhan-20250702123404609.htm
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