Man leaves doctors baffled after seemingly 'contracting food poisoning in his penis following vigorous intercourse'

A man suffered a rather unfortunate illness as he seemingly contracted food poisoning in his penis.

Food poisoning is the worst at the best of times, but this takes it to a whole new level.

A 38-year-old man sought medical attention at the American University of Beirut Medical Center after experiencing redness, swelling, and scabbing on his penis for nearly a week.

The symptoms surfaced shortly after the patient endured severe diarrhea and vomiting.

Urologists conducted a swab test on the affected area to check for infection, revealing the presence of the bacteria Bacillus cereus, as reported by the Daily Mail.

This bacterium, commonly associated with rice left at room temperature for extended periods, can cause foodborne illnesses, including stomach upset and vomiting.

Doctors concluded that the unusual genital infection was likely caused by the combination of severe gastrointestinal symptoms and "vigorous sex" with the man's wife shortly before the onset of symptoms.

The intimate activity, coupled with the subsequent episode of diarrhea and vomiting, may have facilitated the bacteria's entry into the skin through microtears or changes in blood vessels in the genital area.

"The bacteria was said to have made direct contact with the patient's groin," the doctors noted, describing the occurrence as "unusual."

They emphasized that this is the "first case in literature" where Bacillus cereus has been identified in the genital region.

The patient, a father of two, was treated with a topical antibiotic known as fucidic acid, commonly used for eye infections.

He was also advised to maintain proper hygiene and abstain from sexual activity and masturbation until the infection had fully healed.

One month after treatment, the patient reported a full recovery with no lingering symptoms or recurrence of the infection, per the New York Post.

According to the NHS, Bacillus cereus can induce illness as quickly as 30 minutes after consuming contaminated food, though symptoms typically resolve within 24 hours.

The patient had consumed a rice-containing meal with his family the day before his symptoms began.

The study detailing this case was published in the journal Annals of Medicine and Surgery.

The authors noted that penile infections usually result from injuries that create open wounds and typically involve Group A streptococcus bacteria.

In this case, however, they wrote: "It is plausible that the diarrhea and vomitus which contaminated the penis post-intercourse is likely the source of the skin infection."

Grim.

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