A man in Ireland has been diagnosed with an exceedingly rare infection affecting his penis, potentially stemming from his extensive contact with dead animals in his professional and recreational activities.
According to a report published in ASM Case Reports, the 57-year-old sought medical attention in Dublin when he experienced redness, swelling, and pain in his genital area over a week, alongside a fever. Admitted to the hospital, his medical history revealed a kidney transplant 15 years prior, for which he took immunosuppressive medication, increasing his susceptibility to infections.
Although initial tests suggested a bacterial skin infection (cellulitis), standard antibiotic treatment proved ineffective as his symptoms escalated. This led to infectious disease specialists further examining his condition.
In their investigation, doctors discovered systemic symptoms he had suffered in the preceding months, including fever, night sweats, chills, loss of appetite, and weight loss. His extensive interaction with dead animals was also highlighted; he was raised on a rural Irish farm, worked as a butcher handling deer and cattle, and avidly hunted game.
The severity of his symptoms prompted doctors to perform CT scans on his chest, abdomen, and pelvic region. The scans revealed his lungs peppered with nodules indicative of miliary tuberculosis, a serious disease potentially linked to his occupational exposure.