Over the past five years, New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation has received 326 claims involving cockroaches, with costs nearing $520,000.
Doctors believe many of these cases involve insects crawling into people’s ears, a creepy yet manageable scenario.
Doctors John Cameron and Tim Malloy, though never dealing with cockroaches directly, have removed many moths from patients’ ears. They explained that while the sensation of an insect in the ear is highly unpleasant, it is not dangerous. The ear’s structure, including the eardrum, prevents the insect from causing serious harm.
One notable case involved Hamilton resident David Totman, who woke to a cockroach crawling into his ear. Describing the feeling as unbearable, he said it seemed as if the insect was scratching inside his head. Initially, Totman tried rinsing his ear with water, which only made the cockroach move more. Eventually, he subdued it with oil, the recommended method for such situations.
Dr. Cameron advises using non-caustic vegetable oil to immobilise an insect before visiting a doctor. He warns against trying to remove it yourself, as professionals can safely extract the insect with tools like forceps or suction.
While the number of claims might sound high, Dr. Malloy points out that only about 70 cases are reported each year, a small number given the population size. He also notes that these incidents rarely require urgent care if the insect is immobilised.
Totman, who went to work with the cockroach still in his ear, later had it removed at a clinic. He kept the insect as a conversation starter, using it to surprise friends at gatherings. Despite the ordeal, medical experts remind everyone to stay calm and follow proper steps if faced with a similar situation.
