An unusual medical case has emerged in Ireland, where a 57-year-old man developed a rare infection on his penis, potentially originating from his work with dead animals. As outlined in an article from ASM Case Reports, the patient sought medical attention at a Dublin hospital after experiencing redness, swelling, and pain in his penis, along with a fever over the course of a week.
The man, who underwent a kidney transplant 15 years earlier and was on immunosuppressive medication to prevent organ rejection, faced increased vulnerability to infections. Initial blood tests hinted at an infection, prompting doctors to treat him for suspected bacterial cellulitis with standard antibiotics. However, his symptoms worsened, necessitating consultation with infectious disease specialists.
Upon further examination, it was discovered that in the months preceding his hospital visit, he suffered from fever, drenching night sweats, chills, loss of appetite, and weight loss. His extensive exposure to dead animals was also noted. Raised on a farm in rural Ireland, the man worked as a butcher handling deer and cattle, and was an enthusiastic hunter who often field-dressed game.
To investigate the systemic symptoms, medical professionals conducted computed tomography (CT) scans of his chest, abdomen, and pelvic area. The scans revealed seed-like nodules in his lungs, indicative of miliary tuberculosis.