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Terrifying. Could it be that stress caused the Streptococcus pyogenes infection? It would be the most sensible explanation. I imagine being a CEO of a startup is a very stressful role, causing suppression of the immune system and thereby S pyogenes had a chance to proliferate. I have no idea, just speculation.

[Pimpus]

It was absolutely caused by unconscious emotions (like stress). The following part just made me laugh out loud:

> This mainly involves infection by the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria and more commonly affects young, healthy adults. I didn't do anything to get it, it just happened - like being struck by lightning.

The jarring contrast between medicine's ability to perform surgical miracles, like those described in the article, and it's total inability to understand what causes illness, is just comical. I guess there is money in one and not the other.

[bb123]

Do you have anything to back up your claim it was caused by the stress? That seems like a pretty big claim to make.

[bregma]

It was absolutely caused by a witch casting a curse. She should be sought out and burned at the stake and put on trial.

[CzarnyZiutek]

correct!

[EliRivers]

It was absolutely caused by unconscious emotions (like stress).

I cannot imagine a mechanism whereby stress causes a human body to create a bacterium, effectively from out of nowhere. To synthesise it. Do you have any evidence or even a posited mechanism for this amazing claim? Or is your claim that the illness isn't caused by this bacterium?

[rtb]

No-one is claiming that stress synthesizes bacteria, that is a laughable strawman.

We are surrounded by bacteria at all times. If stress were to weaken your immune system, then you might be more easily infected by them. This seems completely plausible to me (likely, even). It is not a great leap to describe this link as stress "causing" the infection, even if it might be better to describe it more precisely. Perhaps "stress meant he couldn't fight off the infection as he normally would have"?

[tjpnz]

Not saying I completely buy into it as an explanation for this specific case - but stress can compromise the immune system making it easier for infections to occur.

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This bacteria is part of our normal microbiota. The immune system suppress them to not wreak havoc.