Woman suffers seven year infection after boyfriend farted in her face
An Australian woman has fallen victim to what might be described as the most vindictive biological attack in relationship history.
Christine Connell endured years of persistent facial pain before finally discovering the cause – her boyfriend’s fart.
It turned out after a nose swab that she had been suffering as a result of E. coli bacteria getting lodged in her sinuses.
A surprising location for a germ normally found in the gut.
Medical professionals were initially baffled by how faecal bacteria could travel through the air to infect her sinuses.
They now believe they’ve found the source – a hotel room incident following ankle surgery when her boyfriend farted in close proximity while she was bedridden and vulnerable.
Christine said: ‘You usually don’t get E. coli in your sinuses because E. coli is from poop. How does that get in your sinuses unless you have a boyfriend who farts disgustingly, and you are forced to inhale it because you are immobile after ankle surgery?’
Christine didn’t go as far as to call it a biological weapon. But she did describe it as ‘the worst fart I have ever smelled in my life. I couldn’t breathe. There’s not anything that even compares to that.’
She said: ‘I realised that my ex-boyfriend got the best possible break-up revenge that anyone could ever get. I’ve had a persistent sinus infection ever since.’
Seven years later, Christine is still suffering the consequences – a testament to the lasting power of a truly memorable fart.
E. coli, short for Escherichia coli, is a type of bacteria that can, in some cases, cause severe illness, often through food poisoning.
One type of E. coli lives in the gut of people and animals. This strain is usually harmless, and even beneficial, helping to digest your food.
However, other, harmful, strains, can lead to infections in the digestive system which can, occasionally, be fatal.
All of the cases in the current outbreak involve the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O145 (Stec).
What are the most common E. coli symptoms?
While different strains of E. coli can cause infections, the most common symptoms of each are:
- Diarrhoea, ranging from mild and watery to severe and bloody
- Stomach cramps, or abdominal pain and tenderness
- Nausea and vomiting
Patients may also have a fever.
Most people will suffer symptoms three to four days after being infected, but E coli food poisoning can strike any time between one and 14 days after exposure.
The E. coli, once in the body, releases a toxin which causes the symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to a condition known as haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which causes blood clots that can damage the kidneys – and is potentially fatal.
Signs of HUS included peeing less, tiredness, swelling and bruising.
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