Physicians regularly document the unique situations they encounter in the form of reports in medical journals. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the strangest medical cases reported this year.
Vitamin D overdose
We need vitamin D mainly to increase the levels of calcium and phosphorus in our blood. The main natural source of vitamin D remains exposure to the Sun. Some foods also contain it and it is also possible to ensure its intake with supplements provided you do not abuse it too much.
A study published in July in BMJ Case Reports also detailed the case of a Briton who consumed the equivalent of 400 times the recommended daily dose in one day. The man would then have suffered from several symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, tinnitus and vomiting) for nearly three months, losing more than thirteen kilos in the process. Everything was finally back to normal two months later thanks to treatment to reduce his high calcium level.
Man rips his lung out while masturbating
A few months ago, a young man’s masturbation session landed him in hospital with spontaneous pneumomediastinum, the result of a sudden increase in pressure in the chest cavity. The tearing of certain lung membranes then allows the air circulating in the respiratory system to escape and end up in the space in the chest located between the two lungs (the mediastinum).
This phenomenon is usually triggered by a violent cough, an acute asthma attack, excessive vomiting or intense physical exercise.
Foam insulation in his urethra
For one reason or another, sometimes people insert foreign bodies into their genitourinary tract, especially the urethra. Of course, this type of maneuver is not without risk.
A few months ago, a team of doctors notably reported the case of a 45-year-old man whose partner had inserted a long straw into his urethra connected to a bomb of insulating foam in an attempt to alleviate his erectile dysfunction, before inadvertently pull the trigger. The insulation had then passed through the entire length of the urethra before finally filling the bladder.
Hiccups and cancer
Most of the time, hiccups are short-lived and completely benign. However, sometimes they are a sign of a much deeper problem. Last March, Indian doctors reported the case of a patient whose hiccups had lasted for months. After analysis, it emerged that the latter was caused by an aggressive brain tumor. After radiation therapy and surgery, the symptoms subsided.
“Allergic” to his own orgasms
Earlier this year, doctors reported the case of a person who developed an allergic reaction to his own orgasms. Specifically, the man suffered from symptoms similar to hay fever after ejaculating. This phenomenon is known as post-orgasmic illness syndrome, manifested itself from his adolescence, pushing this poor man to avoid sexual and romantic relationships.
Doctors suspected that the cause of these symptoms could be an infection in the testicles, or even an injury. Thus, leakage of sperm into the bloodstream would cause rejection by immune cells. To treat it, the team opted for long-acting antihistamines, often used to manage other types of allergies. The man was then able to enjoy orgasms with significantly reduced symptoms.
