Prepare to be amazed! When gastroenterologists explore the depths of the human colon, they often encounter the usual suspects like tumors, ulcers, and even a little bit of poop. But every now and then, they stumble upon something truly unexpected. In a fascinating case published in the ACG Case Reports Journal, a clinical team discovered a ladybug inside a patient’s colon!
Our digestive system is a marvel, but sometimes it needs a little help. That’s where colonoscopy comes in. This procedure allows doctors to examine the colon by inserting a camera through the anus and navigating through the large intestine. It’s a vital tool for detecting diseases like cancer, and apparently, it can also uncover surprise guests like ladybugs.
Preparing for a colonoscopy is no easy task. To get clear images, the bowel must be as empty as possible. This requires a process of abstinence and purging. In the case of our ladybug friend, the patient underwent a colonoscopy preparation involving polyethylene glycol, a laxative used to treat constipation. The researchers believe that this laxative may have facilitated the ladybug’s speedy journey through the digestive system, allowing it to survive relatively unscathed.
“The patient’s colonoscopy preparation was 1 gallon of polyethylene glycol the evening before colonoscopy, and the colonoscopy examination was otherwise normal,” wrote the authors. “His colonoscopy preparation may have helped the bug to escape from digestive enzymes in the stomach and upper small intestine.”
So how did the ladybug end up in the patient’s colon in the first place? The exact circumstances remain a mystery, but it’s likely that it entered while the man was sleeping. The authors identify the ladybug as Harmonia axyridis, a species introduced to North America for pest control. They note that its vibrant colors, ranging from red-orange to dull cream, make it quite the fashionable accessory for one’s colon.
But wait, there’s more! Ladybugs aren’t the only resilient beetles to survive a journey through the colon. Gastrointestinal specialist Dr. Keith Siau shared several case studies on Twitter where cockroaches were also discovered during colonoscopies. It seems that even with all our scientific advancements, we are still connected to nature in unexpected ways.
