Most recently, a man in China was diagnosed with a lung infection that he got in a very weird way.
The 37-year-old male, identified only as Peng, had been hospitalized with pneumonia-like symptoms. Peng complained of chest pains, tightness while breathing, and bouts of coughing. Despite treatments and medications administered at Zhangzhou’s 909 Hospital, the man’s symptoms persisted.
When doctors gave Peng an X-ray, he was diagnosed with a severe, fungal infection of the lungs. Hoping to gain more information regarding the source, doctors sat him down for a little chat.
When the doctors interviewed Peng, he admitted to having a strange, daily habit.
Every day, when he got home from work, he would take off his socks, inhaling the dirty, sweaty fabric with big breaths. According to local reported (cited by UK Daily Mail), the man said he was “addicted” to smelling his own worn socks— a practice doctors think may have led to his infection.
Fungal infections are less common than viral or bacterial infections, but they can present serious problems. They generally affect people with pre-existing immune deficiencies (like those suffering from certain cancers and HIV or taking immunosuppressive drugs).
There are roughly a million different species of fungi, but only about 300 are known to make people sick. The severity of the infection relates to the area infected. For example, skin infections are generally less dangerous than lung infections or fungal meningitis.
Doctors believe Peng may have had a fungal infection on his feet, which he transferred to his lungs when he sniffed his dirty socks and inhaled the fungal spores.
The theory is impossible to prove. However, it does make sense, especially when you consider that Peng wasn’t sleeping properly at the time:
“The infection could also be attributed to the patient’s lack of rest at home as he had [been] looking after his child, leading to a weaker immune system,” Dr. Mai Zhuanying explained.
When the report was published on Weibo, a Chinese social media site, the account instantly went viral.
While most people were pretty disgusted with Peng’s hobby, others admitted to having a perverse habit of sniffing their own socks too.
“Oh, no! Maybe I should stop sniffing my socks after wearing them for an entire day,” one user commented.
“I promise I’ll wash my socks every day now,” added another.
If you ask me, those are great ideas.
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