The man’s habit of smelling his dirty socks led to inhales fungi spores Aspergillus.
A bizarre medical case came in Chongqing, China, with a man to be hospitalized with a severe pulmonary infection after regularly smelling your own dirty socks.
The man, identified in local reports with the pseudonym Li Qi, was admitted to the southwest hospital of the Army Medical University after a persistent cough Disturbing your sleep and everyday life, refers to.
Despite experiencing li -qi symptoms continued, leading doctors to perform a TAC and bronchoscopy – a diagnostic procedure involving respiratory tract examination through a flexible tube. The results revealed that it suffered from pulmonary aspergillosis, a pulmonary disease caused by the inhalation of fungi spores aspergillus.
What shocked doctors was the origin of the infection: the unusual habit of smell your used socks at the end of each day. The patient admitted that smelling his sweaty socks had become part of his daily routine.
The tests made to their socks revealed the Same aspergillus strain found in your lungs. According to Dr. Luo Hu, deputy director of the hospital respiratory department, moisture and sweat conditions inside the socks make them an ideal ground for the proliferation of fungi and bacteria.
“The humid, hot and closed environment of the used socks provides the perfect conditions for the development of fungi such as Aspergillus,” explained Dr. Liang Peiqiang, another respiratory disease specialist at the hospital.
Although Aspergillus spores are usually present in the environment and are generally harmless when inhaled in small quantities, the excessive or prolonged exposure – Especially under poorly hygienic conditions – can lead to infections, especially in the lungs. In the case of Li Qi, the exposure repeated by directly smelling contaminated socks provided a direct way for the fungus infect your respiratory system.
Fortunately, the man has received immediate treatment and since then has completely recovered. However, doctors warned of these poorly hygienic habits and stressed the importance of Good hygiene practices to avoid similar infections.
