Another 6 Strange Medical Syndromes
The Benjamin Button Syndrome
Is actually a Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome and is a genetic condition characterized by the dramatic, rapid appearance of aging beginning in childhood. Affected children typically look normal at birth and in early infancy, but then grow more slowly than other children and do not gain weight at the expected rate (failure to thrive).
This condition is very rare; it is reported to occur in 1 in 4 million newborns worldwide. More than 130 cases have been reported in the scientific literature since the condition was first described in 1886. link
If you cry, you die. RAS syndrome
Tianna Lewis, just two years old, suffers from RAS (Reflex Anoxic Seizure) a strange evil that allows the circulation of blood to the brain when something surprising or makes you mourn.
Little Tianna’s condition is triggered by tears, because if she does, her skin turns white, the body is stiffened, and her heart and breathing stops temporarily. She was diagnosed at 18 months old, and her parents have the difficult task to prevent her from crying.
Reflex anoxic seizure reportedly can also be triggered by pain, fear, fright or a very hot or cold bath.
Fortunately, reflex anoxic seizures generally receives less frequent and eventually stop in childhood. Sometimes the attacks persist until early adulthood. link
Ondine’s curse
Also called congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) or primary alveolar hypoventilation, is a respiratory disorder that is fatal if untreated. Persons afflicted with Ondine’s curse classically suffer from respiratory arrest during sleep.
This very rare and serious form of central sleep apnea involves an inborn failure of autonomic control of breathing. About 1 in 200,000 live born children have the condition. In 2006, there were only about 200 known cases worldwide. In all cases, episodes of apnea occur in sleep, but in a few patients, at the most severe end of the spectrum, apnea also occurs while awake.link
Pregnant baby
An outstanding incident took place in the medical practice of Saudi doctors. A year-old girl turned out to be pregnant.
Fetus in fetu (or fœtus in fœtu) is a developmental abnormality: a mass of tissue inside the body that more or less resembles a fetus. There are two theories of origin concerning fetus in fetu. One theory is that the mass begins as a normal fetus but becomes enveloped inside its twin
The other theory is that the mass is a highly developed teratoma. Fetus in fetu is estimated to occur in 1 in 500,000 live births link
The inability to move the eyes from side to side.
Möbius syndrome (also spelled Moebius) is an extremely rare congenital neurological disorder which is characterized by facial paralysis and the inability to move the eyes from side to side. Most people with Möbius syndrome are born with complete facial paralysis and cannot close their eyes or form facial expressions. Limb and chest wall abnormalities sometimes occur with the syndrome. Most people with Möbius syndrome have normal intelligence, although their lack of facial expression is sometimes incorrectly taken to be due to dullness or unfriendliness.link
Abnormal legs that never stops growing
Mandy Sellars, 33, from Lancashire of England, may be suffering from an extremely rare disease called Proteus syndrome,that left two of her legs weighing 92-98kg out of total body weight about 130kg. What’s the worse, the abnormal legs never stops growing, and one day, they may have to be amputated.
“This is a very rare disorder. Certainly, less than one in a million,” said Dr. John Graham, director of clinical genetics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “Proteus syndrome is named for the Greek God who could change his form. And because it was such an apt description of how these individuals rapidly change form from appearing relatively normal as young children to this startling overgrowth, the name has remained with the disorder ever since then.”link
10 Strange Medical Syndromes
1 – Walking Corpse Syndrome
Sufferers of walking corpse syndrome, also known as the Cotard delusion, believe that they are dead, decaying or have lost body parts or internal organs. In some cases, victims believe that they don’t even exist.
Walking corpse syndrome is typically the result of brain damage or mental illness.
2 – Pica syndrome sufferers eat non-foods
Pica is a very strange and rare psychological disorder that causes an appetite for soil, coal, paper, or other traditionally non-food items.
There is no concrete cause, but pica is believed by many to result from a mineral deficiency, and as such, it’s found most frequently in pregnant women and children in lower-income areas.
3 – Werewolf Syndrome
Hypertrichosis, or werewolf syndrome, is a medical condition that causes the excessive growth of body hair — typically on the upper body, including the face.
There are only 50 or so documented cases, and sufferers generally acquire it through genetic inheritance. In 2008, scientists at Columbia University found that an injection of testosterone significantly helped in long-term hair loss in patients with hypertrichosis; the finding was hailed by many as a cure.
4 – Water Allergy
Aquagenic pruritus is a skin disease characterized by the development of severe, intense, prickling-like epidermal itching that is without observable skin lesions and that is evoked by contact with water.
Symptoms may be felt immediately after contact with water or humid air and can persist for an hour or longer. Other triggers may be sweat, blowing air, temperature differences, changing clothes, contact with synthetic fibers, and lying down to try to sleep. This condition may persist for years.
5 – 300 Orgasms a Day Syndrome
Persistent genital arousal disorder also known as persistent sexual arousal syndrome or PSAS, results in a spontaneous and persistent genital arousal, with or without orgasm or genital engorgement, unrelated to any feelings of sexual desire.
6 – Foreign Accent Syndrome
Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) is a speech disorder that causes sudden changes in speech pattern, intonation and pronunciation so that the victim is perceived to speak with a “foreign” accent. FAS usually results from severe trauma to the brain, such as a stroke or head injury, and typically develops within one or two years of the injury. Of the 50 to 60 cases that have been verified since 1941, only a few FAS sufferers regained their normal speech pattern, although some experienced success through speech therapy.
7 – Sleep sex
Sexsomnia is a sleep disorder that, much like sleepwalking, compels the sufferer to engage in sexual activity while asleep. Identified in 2003, sexsomnia has since been cited to acquit defendants accused of sexual assault in British and Canadian criminal cases.
8 – Congenital insensitivity to pain
Chronic condition with inability to feel physical pain. Other sensation is otherwise normal.
Typically due to the mutation of a gene associated with the transmission of pain in the body. As such, they are more susceptible to death by trauma, since they might not be aware of the extent of damage done to their own bodies. There have been around 100 cases documented in the US.s.
9 – Alien Hand Syndrome
10 – Exploding Head Syndrome
People with exploding head syndrome intermittently hear loud, explosion-like noises that seem to originate from within their own head. The “explosions” usually occur within an hour or two hours of the victim falling asleep. There’s no physical pain, but sufferers understandably experience fear and anxiety after such attacks. While it’s not clear what exactly causes the syndrome, it’s been linked to stress and fatigue and often vanishes without any treatment
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