By Gabriel Lago
29 Oct 2023, 10:15 PM EDT
In a strange medical case that could give you chills, a 64-year-old woman sought help at an ENT clinic after experiencing four days of “creepy sounds” emanating from her ear.
Unexplained noises, described as banging, clicking and creaking, kept her awake at night, according to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to the case report, which details her ordeal, the woman suspected from the beginning that something unusual was afoot. She recalled waking up with a distinct sensation of movement inside her ear the day her symptoms began.
“On physical examination, a small spider was seen moving inside the external auditory canal of the left ear,” the medical team noted in the case report. To add to the shock, they revealed, “the spider’s molted exoskeleton was also present.”
An unexpected tenant
A video captured by the medical team shows the arachnid crawling inside the ear, very close to its discarded exoskeleton. While the exact species of spider was not identified in the report, attention remained on the unusual event of a spider making an ear its temporary home.
Experts suggest that the spider probably belongs to the jumping spider family (Salticidae). This species is known for its agility and mobility, and the presence of the detached exoskeleton suggests it could have been a juvenile spider at the time.
“Many huntsman spiders look for a protected place to molt, since they cannot defend themselves from predators during that process,” explained Jerry Rovner, professor emeritus of biology at Ohio University.
Medical professionals successfully removed both the spider and its exoskeleton from the woman’s ear using suction. Surprisingly, her mysterious symptoms stopped immediately.
This unusual case serves as a stark reminder that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. The woman’s experience, while undoubtedly disturbing, highlights the incredible resilience and adaptability of nature’s creatures.
Keep reading:
· British grandmother wins lottery prize after seeing 2 money spiders
· Boy in Bolivia who let himself be bitten by a black widow spider because he wanted to become Spiderman