Can smelly socks indicate lung infection? There are more things you can’t smell in life than just stinky socks!

Recently, a netizen shared his experience of getting a fungal lung infection just because he smelled his freshly taken-off socks, which attracted the attention and heated discussion of many netizens. So, how can smelly socks be related to lung infection? Why can't we smell smelly socks? What are the dangerous ingredients in socks?

Image source: weibo

The socks we wear contain sweat, salt, urea, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. Some people have itchy and smelly feet, which is likely caused by pathogenic fungi, which is commonly known as "athlete's foot". Wearing shoes for a long time forms a closed space, which is more likely to breed fungi and further multiply. When they smell the socks or feet closely, the fungi on them may enter the lower respiratory tract and lungs through the nasal cavity. If the body's immune function is low, it may cause fungal infections in the lower respiratory tract, such as fungal pneumonia.

Therefore, just a small action of smelling the socks will result in a heavy price. It will cause the patient to cough continuously, and the chest CT scan will show patchy shadows and cavities, requiring hospitalization for detailed diagnosis such as bronchoscopy. Subsequently, the patient will have to receive regular oral antifungal drug treatment and regular follow-up for a long period of time.

Chest CT and bronchoscopy images Source: provided by the author

Let’s talk about today, besides smelly socks, what other items do we need to pay attention to and not smell in our lives?

First, let's look at the function of the human nose. As an olfactory organ, it is quite powerful. It not only allows us to distinguish odors, but also has a protective function. Don't underestimate the abundant nasal hairs in the nasal cavity. They can filter dust and purify the air.

The nasal cavity contains abundant blood vessels and mucous glands, which warm, moisten and purify the inhaled air. From the nasal cavity down to our throat, trachea and lungs, they are all connected. Therefore, when we smell some harmful odors, it is easy to inhale them from the nasal cavity into the lungs, causing deep damage. Therefore, we should not always pick our noses or pull out our nose hairs, which will affect the nasal cavity's filtering effect on harmful gases.

Respiratory system overview source: https://www.sohu.com/a/381744599_256221

Although the nasal cavity has a certain protective effect, harmful substances are still quite cunning, and there are still many things we cannot touch in our lives:

Molds on articles may cause fungal infections. Fungal spores are inhaled into the human lungs and cause illness, which is called primary pulmonary fungal infection.

Xiaohong lives in a villa in the suburbs. During the rainy season, many mildew spots appeared on the walls of the basement room. She did not wear a mask or take other protective measures. She just took a small shovel to remove the mildew spots. As a result, she inhaled a lot of fungi during the removal process. In addition, she was busy with her daily work and had low immunity, which caused a cryptococcal infection in her lungs. There is also Xiaolan, who likes to play the flute in his spare time. However, he did not protect the flute well, and mildew spots grew on the inner wall of the flute, and he did not pay attention. As a result, he accidentally inhaled the mildew spots when playing the flute, causing a fungal infection.

The wall is moldy. Source: Miley, a user on Xiaohongshu

Therefore, it is necessary to clean items in a timely manner and discard items with mold spots in a timely manner. You should also take protective measures, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask, and get regular rest. Do not stay up late, and go to the hospital in time if you have respiratory symptoms.

Some smells are harmful to human body.

Many people will feel dizzy and even a little nauseous when they smell gasoline. When the volatile gasoline enters the respiratory tract, it will combine with the blood in the alveoli and compete with oxygen for red blood cells, which will cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing and dizziness.

Schematic diagram of the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between alveoli and capillaries Source: https://tech.sina.com.cn/d/a/2020-05-04/doc-iirczymi9801590.shtml?cre=tianyi&mod=pcpager_news&loc=4&r=9&rfunc=100&tj=none&tr=9

Most people hate the smell of cigarettes, but smokers don't think so. We all know the harm of secondhand smoke. Smokers are more likely to suffer from lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than non-smokers. Secondhand smoke is also the most common pollutant that harms children's health, causing childhood asthma, sudden death in children, bronchitis, pneumonia and other diseases.

There may be harmful gases in the air after the renovation, such as formaldehyde and benzene. Their smell is very irritating and may even cause us to have symptoms such as tears, sore throat, and cough. Long-term exposure may also cause various cancers and blood diseases. Therefore, it is not recommended to move in immediately after the renovation is completed. It is recommended to open windows for ventilation, place green plants, activated carbon, etc. to remove odors and remove harmful gases.

Stationery with a special aroma can easily attract children to buy, but such erasers and pens with added fragrances, especially some inferior products without any "three nos", contain phenol, formaldehyde, mercury, alkane and other harmful chemicals to varying degrees, and long-term use can easily cause headaches, nausea, respiratory inflammation and other symptoms. Parents must strictly control when choosing stationery for their children.

Image source: https://www.sohu.com/a/714453201_498192

There are also some smells, such as nail polish. Many nail polishes contain chemical ingredients, such as benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and other harmful substances. These substances may cause damage to human health, such as causing skin allergies, headaches, dizziness, nausea, etc. Some synthetic camphor balls also contain dichlorobenzene, which can cause fatigue, dizziness, headaches, diarrhea and other symptoms.

The ancients said, "The fragrance is intoxicating." However, we still need to pay attention to many details in our lives. Even items with a fragrant smell may be harmful. I hope everyone can be more vigilant and pay attention to protection.

Author: Wang Xiangyun, deputy chief physician, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital

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