Cockroach in the Ear

I took a surprisingly enjoyable course in medical entomology as an undergrad at Ohio State University. Admittedly, decades later, the only things I remember from that course are that only four of the 4500 species of cockroaches are classified as pests: the German, Asian, American, and Oriental cockroaches.   The majority of cockroach species live in their natural habitats in woods, tropical forests, or deserts, but these four have taken up residence with humans and have become serious pests. They may have distinctly cosmopolitan names, but it is believed that they all started in Africa. Their mouths can chomp through cardboard, cloth, or paper to reach food. They contaminate everything they touch with their feces.   Dissemination of disease has not been well documented, but they are undeniably transporters of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. A review of the literature indicates that cockroaches have been accused of spreading leprosy, cholera, and more recently, the HIV virus. Multiple studies of the bacteria associated with or in cockroaches also have demonstrated a host of bacteria and parasites pathologic to humans. They are dirty, repulsive little bugs that feed on filth.   One of the first things I learned when we moved to the South was that cockroaches love temperate and hot climates. These nocturnal partiers love to hide in warm, dark places. Living proof is the number of patients I see presenting with cockroaches in their external ear canals. The prosp...
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