Man Hospitalised After Daily Sock-Sniffing Habit Caused Fungal Lung Infection
Please kick the smelly habit for the sake of your health.
Be honest now, who here takes a whiff of their socks after coming home from a long day?
If you do, you might want to reconsider that habit.
A middle-aged man from Chongqing, China was recently hospitalised with a fungal lung infection, and doctors believe that his daily habit of sniffing his dirty socks may have been the cause.
Eww!
Worn socks typically contain sweat, urea and other organic matter that when left in a warm and enclosed environment like a shoe, becomes the perfect breeding ground for fungus.
The infection was discovered after the man underwent CT and MRI scans, followed by a bronchoscopy, which confirmed that the infection was fungal in nature.
After being questioned by doctors for any unusual habits or possible causes, the man admitted to his sock-sniffing habit.
To determine whether the socks were indeed the source, doctors conducted lab tests and found traces of the same fungus present in the man’s lungs.
Doctors in China are now issuing a public service announcement urging people to avoid such habits.
They warn that inhaling bacteria and fungal spores through the nose and throat can lead to serious lung infections with potential long-term health consequences.
People, basic hygiene shouldn’t need to be taught this way, right?
Photos: Sinar Harian
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