One can only imagine how this guy explained his absence from work to his boss, as claiming food poisoning in your penis sounds like something out of a ridiculous excuse book. However, for this 38-year-old, his diagnosis was anything but a joke. In what is thought to be the first case of its kind in the world, his condition became serious shortly after an intimate moment with his wife—and oddly enough, it also involved some unrefrigerated rice.
After suffering from a range of painful symptoms in his lower region for almost a week, the man finally decided to seek medical attention.
Urologists were consulted after the redness, swelling, and scabbing on his penis continued for several days. The medical team grew increasingly worried when the patient revealed that these symptoms had begun alongside a severe episode of diarrhea and vomiting.
Doctors at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon swabbed the patient’s genital area to test for infection. Unsurprisingly, they were unprepared for the shocking results that came back from the lab.
Interestingly, further investigation revealed that the man had the bacterium Bacillus cereus present on his genitalia.
This foodborne pathogen is typically found in rice, cereals, spices, milk, and cream that have been left at room temperature for too long. According to the NHS, Bacillus cereus “grows rapidly at room temperature, producing toxins” and “forms spores that can survive heat processing,” which can lead to nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, and illness.
After discussing this perplexing case of food poisoning, the medical team concluded that the man’s bacterial infection must have stemmed from the episode of vomiting and diarrhea that occurred shortly after he engaged in “vigorous sex” with his wife.
Skin breaks and the significant exchange of bodily fluids during sexual activity facilitate the transmission of viral and bacterial infections. The Daily Mail reports that medical professionals determined that Bacillus cereus had somehow made direct contact with his intimate area.
The doctors were taken aback to find Bacillus cereus in the man’s penis, as they considered it “unusual” to discover it in such a location. The source was traced back to a rice-based meal he had consumed just the day before his symptoms began.
According to research published in the Annals of Medicine and Surgery journal, this case represents the “first example in literature” of penile food poisoning. The father of two was treated with fusidic acid, a topical antibiotic commonly used for eye infections. The doctors advised him to clean the area “properly” and to avoid sexual activity and masturbation until it healed.
Fortunately, four weeks after his unusual diagnosis, the man reported that he was no longer experiencing burning or discomfort, and the illness did not return.
The study’s authors, researchers from the Annals of Medicine and Surgery, noted that penile infections often recur after an injury that leaves an open sore. In about 90% of cases, the bacterium group A Streptococcus is involved. The physicians concluded, “In this current case, it is plausible that the diarrhea and vomitus that contaminated the penis post-intercourse is likely the source of the skin infection.”
