# Flies coming out of his penis? Why can't X-Rays show the source of the infestation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 24, 2003, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568 "2003-07-24T06:19:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/1 "2003-07-24T06:19:12Z")
Why don’t they just X-Ray him to find the source of the maggots? [‘Fly boy’ continues to suffer as doctors struggle](http://in.news.yahoo.com/030624/43/25eim.html) > [@](#): > > Kolkata, June 24 (IANS) A 13-year-old boy whose bizarre ailment has a fly-like insect emerging out of him is far from being cured as doctors struggle to detect the source of the parasite. > > The fully-grown flies, as doctors described the parasites, have been emerging out of Chandan Goswami’s genitals and flying off for more than two weeks now. > > Chandan, now receiving treatment at a state-run hospital in West Bengal’s Burdwan district, is said to be suffering from a condition called myiasis, a disease seen mostly in Central and Latin America. > > In myiasis, the larvae of a type of fly invade a human or animal body, dead or alive. The deposited eggs can then enter the body through pores, the mucous membrane or even the mouth. The hatched larvae then emerge out the host’s skin and pupate. > > However, in Chandan’s case, whole flies complete with wings are emerging out of his body and flying off. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/2 "2003-07-24T07:21:30Z")
Interesting case. [This article](http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030615/asp/bengal/story_2070035.asp) has slightly more detail, and it says: > [@](#): > > gWe have done a cystogram on the boyfs urinary tract to find out where the insects have invaded,h said Snehansu Pan, the surgeon taking care of Chandan. The boy has been x-rayed, but doctors do not think this will reveal anything. Chandanfs blood samples have been sent for testing. A cystogram, I believe, is similar to a PET scan and traces the flow of urine. No explanation on why the tests have so far failed to locate the larvae, but I think X-rays are not suited for observing such small pieces of soft tissue. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/3 "2003-07-24T07:33:24Z")
Oh man, this thread is a pun waiting to happen. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/4 "2003-07-24T07:44:13Z")
Maybe he forgot to [change his underwear](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=199647). ---
**Author:** ![Sock\_Munkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Sock\_Munkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sock_Munkey)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/5 "2003-07-24T07:51:17Z")
I think I speak foreveryone when I say AHHHIIIEE! But seriously, you can only X-ray the body for things sufficiently different in density from the surrounding tissue for there to be a contrast clear enough to tell what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/6 "2003-07-24T08:00:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Seven \* > \*\*Oh man, this thread is a pun waiting to happen. \*\* I’ve heard of having your penis stuck in your fly, but never a fly stuck in your penis! (well, someone had to do it) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/7 "2003-07-24T11:00:51Z")
Let me be the first to throw out an uninformed BULLSHIT. I just don’t believe it, especially that fully grown flies are coming out. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/8 "2003-07-24T11:16:52Z")
You think all the news organizations were fooled by a hoax? Possible, but seems unlikely to me. [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/horrors/insects/flyboy.asp) declared it as TRUE. Here are additional articles (though they mostly say the same thing): [http://in.news.yahoo.com/030624/43/25eim.html](http://in.news.yahoo.com/030624/43/25eim.html) [http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/top/story/0,4136,28542-1056383940,00.html](http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/top/story/0,4136,28542-1056383940,00.html) [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030616/asp/bengal/story\_2072542.asp](http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030616/asp/bengal/story_2072542.asp) [http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jun17/n1.asp](http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jun17/n1.asp) ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/9 "2003-07-24T12:39:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boyo Jim \* > \*\*Let me be the first to throw out an uninformed BULLSHIT. I just don’t believe it, especially that fully grown flies are coming out. \*\* Even the poor boy’s own parents didn’t believe it until they saw it for themselves. Sheesh, if I had those flies buzzing around my house I’d be taping all my openings shut. ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/10 "2003-07-24T13:12:06Z")
As to the possibility of an UL: I’m a little suspcious at the variability of the details in news reports. Sometimes it’s flies, sometimes beetles, sometimes just “coming from his penis” in an unspecified way, sometimes urinated, sometimes from a fistula in his lower abdomen, etc. It may well be true, but I think the story is spreading like an urban legend, with the details constantly mutating. ---
**Author:** ![smam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/11 "2003-07-24T13:22:06Z")
How far does a frogs tongue stretch? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/12 "2003-07-24T13:43:39Z")
Oh, brilliant, they want to _irradiate_ the mystery insects? Has nobody ever heard of Mothra? Gamara? Godzilla? Do we really need 200 foot tall insects flying around trying to plant eggs in men’s penises? I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/13 "2003-07-24T16:18:35Z")
Oh good lord, that is the height of foulness. Next thing you know they’ll be bursting from his intestines alien-style. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/14 "2003-07-24T18:06:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Let me be the first to throw out an uninformed BULLSHIT. I just don’t believe it, especially that fully grown flies are coming out. - - - Yea, this is how a couple of the gore-sites are leaning also. One is saying that until they get a video showing a fly coming straight out and buzzing off, they aren’t going to believe. _Nobody_ could turn up any good evidence that any insect is capable of this. There are a number of insects that have eggs/larvae that can mature in human skin, but there is an obvious wound area, and after it is finished coming out the bug has to sit around a while before it can fly. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/15 "2003-07-24T18:18:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by smam \* > \*\*How far does a frogs tongue stretch? \*\* I don’t know, but a **Giraffe** ’s tongue is 18 inches long and prehensile. Just tryin’ ta help. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/16 "2003-07-24T18:41:49Z")
I’ve heard of having your fly open but this is ridiculous. But this reeks of urban legendom. Show me photos! ---
**Author:** ![macabresoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@macabresoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macabresoul)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/17 "2003-07-24T19:55:18Z")
Actually no, don’t show us any photos. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/18 "2003-07-24T22:04:33Z")
Maybe he has the early symptoms of [Herod’s Evil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_216b.html)? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/19 "2003-07-24T22:06:49Z")
3 words–Fibre Optic Probe. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568/20 "2003-07-24T23:49:05Z")
Y’know, even if the X-Rays wouldn’t help _locate_ the…“infestation,” one might still be tempted give the, er, “effected members” some nice, thourough doses of radiation. If _that_ wouldn’t kill the little buggers, I’m not sure I’d want to know what _would…_ “Suck blazing neutrons, you parasitic barstards!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flies-coming-out-of-his-penis-why-cant-x-rays-show-the-source-of-the-infestation/190568.md?page=2)