Smelling socks does not usually cause fungal infections in the lungs.
Fungal infections in the lungs can be caused by long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, glucocorticoid drugs, or immunosuppressive drugs, as well as by diseases such as immunodeficiency. In a normal person without any of these triggers, simple sock sniffing does not usually lead to a fungal infection in the lungs.
If there is no fungal infection in the body, the chance of such transmission is very small; if a healthy person sniffs the socks of a person suffering from athlete’s foot, it will not lead to fungal infection in the lungs, but if the body has an immunodeficiency disease, it is possible that the infection will be caused through this way.
If you are experiencing discomfort, you should seek medical attention and follow the doctor’s instructions.