China Man Suffers Lung Infection From Sniffing His Socks After Work Every Day

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China Man Suffers Lung Infection From Sniffing His Socks After Work Every Day​

Yikes.
SARAH YEOH
APRIL 11, 2025

For some, there is an unexplainable need to get a whiff of their favourite scene from their clothes, toy, or blanket though it may come across as bizarre to some.​

A man in China let his sock-sniffing get the better of his health by landing him in the hospital after his lungs were infected by a type of fungus caused by this weird habit.

China man suffers lung infection from sniffing his socks​

According to a report by Sinar Harian, the anonymous man from Chongqing was rushed to the Southwest Hospital recently after facing a lung-related ailment.

After undergoing a CT scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), doctors found suspicious-looking shadows in the lower part of his right lung.

For illustration purposes only. Photo via Canva

This then prompted a subsequent bronchoscopy, which later revealed that his lungs were hit by a fungal infection caused by aspergillus.

For the uninitiated, aspergillus is a type of mould that can cause serious illnesses if untreated, especially among those with weakened immune systems or are suffering from underlying lung disease or asthma.

When doctors questioned the man to uncover what could have caused his lung infection, the man admitted to smelling his dirty socks after returning from work before putting them into the washing machine.​

For illustration purposes only. Photo via Canva

A doctor from the hospital’s Department of Respiratory Medicine, Dr. Liang Peiqiang, took the man’s dirty socks for analysis and found traces of Aspergillus, leading him to conclude that the man’s unhygienic habit was the source of the infection.

Carry long-term health effects​

Dr. Liang explained that worn socks usually contain sweat, salt, urea. On top of that, its warm, moist environment inside shoes often encourages fungal growth. As for used socks, they carry dirt that can cause fungal infections.

Given this, even the innocent act of smelling your dirty socks increases the risk of inhaling harmful fungi and bacteria straight into your lungs, which can lead to harmful health consequences for years to come.

 

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Similarly, the bawu of CECAs in MRT trains and busses are also toxic.

Will SMRT AND SBSTRANSIT do something about this before more and more people get lung infections?