Medical science has advanced in leaps and bounds over the last two decades. However, there remain some conditions that are so unusual they have yet to find a complete cure.
Here are some you probably have never heard of.
Here are some you probably have never heard of.
Auto-Brewery Syndrome
Auto-Brewery Syndrome, also known as the Gut Fermentation Syndrome, is a strange medical condition where a person experiences intoxication from alcohol through “abnormal gut fermentation” in the small intestines caused by an overgrowth of specific types of fungus. The gut produces alcohol out of regular food and drinks containing carbohydrates, yeast, or bacteria that thrive in that part of the body.
Symptoms include:
The main treatments for this condition are diet changes and reduction in simple sugars, refined carbohydrates, yeast products, and moldy food. In addition, a person with this condition may also need medications like vitamin and mineral supplements to address the nutritional deficiencies.
Auto-Brewery Syndrome, also known as the Gut Fermentation Syndrome, is a strange medical condition where a person experiences intoxication from alcohol through “abnormal gut fermentation” in the small intestines caused by an overgrowth of specific types of fungus. The gut produces alcohol out of regular food and drinks containing carbohydrates, yeast, or bacteria that thrive in that part of the body.
Symptoms include:
- Aches and pains, including in the stomach
- Bloating
- Changes in bowel movements
- Fatigue
- Nasal discharge, productive cough (or one that produces phlegm), and sinusitis
- Problems with concentration, memory, and thought processes
- Sugar cravings
The main treatments for this condition are diet changes and reduction in simple sugars, refined carbohydrates, yeast products, and moldy food. In addition, a person with this condition may also need medications like vitamin and mineral supplements to address the nutritional deficiencies.
Walking Corpse Syndrome
The Walking Corpse Syndrome is also called Cotard’s Syndrome, a neuropsychiatric disorder related to depression.
This syndrome makes people believe that they are dead or missing their soul, organs, blood, or specific body parts. This syndrome is usually a symptom of another psychiatric condition rather than a disease on its own.
Symptoms include:
Symptoms are usually managed through medications like anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and anti-anxiety drugs; and therapy like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or psychotherapy. In addition, Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used as a last resort when medications and talk therapy fail to work.
The Walking Corpse Syndrome is also called Cotard’s Syndrome, a neuropsychiatric disorder related to depression.
This syndrome makes people believe that they are dead or missing their soul, organs, blood, or specific body parts. This syndrome is usually a symptom of another psychiatric condition rather than a disease on its own.
Symptoms include:
- Attempts to self-harm
- Becoming speechless
- Delusions of immortality
- Delusions that one is dying, dead, or no longer exists
- Insensitivity to pain
- Patient stop speaking
- Refusal to eat as a result of their delusions of being dead
- Severe depression or sadness (melancholia)
- Voices telling the patient he/she is dead or dying
Symptoms are usually managed through medications like anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, and anti-anxiety drugs; and therapy like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or psychotherapy. In addition, Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used as a last resort when medications and talk therapy fail to work.
Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome
Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS), also called the Persistent Genital Arousal Syndrome (PGAD), causes people to live perpetually at the brink of an orgasm. The sensations are partially relieved through orgasm but may return suddenly within a few hours. PSAS can lead to constant physical pain, stress, and psychological difficulties due to an inability to carry out everyday tasks.
Patients may suffer the following:
Treatment is usually prescribed to manage the symptoms since the exact cause is not yet known. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is said to identify the triggers and provides some coping mechanisms and distraction techniques. In addition, changes in medication by removing drugs with herbal estrogen can help manage the condition.
Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS), also called the Persistent Genital Arousal Syndrome (PGAD), causes people to live perpetually at the brink of an orgasm. The sensations are partially relieved through orgasm but may return suddenly within a few hours. PSAS can lead to constant physical pain, stress, and psychological difficulties due to an inability to carry out everyday tasks.
Patients may suffer the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Distress
- Frustration
- Guilt
- Insomnia
- Panic attacks
Treatment is usually prescribed to manage the symptoms since the exact cause is not yet known. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is said to identify the triggers and provides some coping mechanisms and distraction techniques. In addition, changes in medication by removing drugs with herbal estrogen can help manage the condition.
Foreign Accent Syndrome
Foreign Accent Syndrome stems from a damage in the part of the brain associated with speech.
This happens when a person suddenly wakes up speaking in a different accent. It is commonly caused by stroke, trauma, tumours, and other neurological conditions.
The most common treatment would be speech therapy to help a person bring back their normal speaking ways.
Foreign Accent Syndrome stems from a damage in the part of the brain associated with speech.
This happens when a person suddenly wakes up speaking in a different accent. It is commonly caused by stroke, trauma, tumours, and other neurological conditions.
The most common treatment would be speech therapy to help a person bring back their normal speaking ways.
Stoneman Syndrome
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), or the Stoneman Syndrome, is a rare condition wherein the body’s connective tissues slowly turns into bones.
It affects1 in 2 million people and is caused by a gene mutation. The condition usually starts from the shoulders and neck, making its way down to the legs. A second bone grows over the first one in a process known as heterotopic ossification (HO).
Surgical efforts to remove the second bone might trigger immense bone growth because of the invasiveness of the surgery. A person with this syndrome can lose mobility after a minor accident, as bone growth is stimulated.
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), or the Stoneman Syndrome, is a rare condition wherein the body’s connective tissues slowly turns into bones.
It affects1 in 2 million people and is caused by a gene mutation. The condition usually starts from the shoulders and neck, making its way down to the legs. A second bone grows over the first one in a process known as heterotopic ossification (HO).
Surgical efforts to remove the second bone might trigger immense bone growth because of the invasiveness of the surgery. A person with this syndrome can lose mobility after a minor accident, as bone growth is stimulated.
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS)
This neurological syndrome is also called Todd’s Syndrome. This usually presents migraines that can distort a person’s body image, including the size of the head, hands, and feet.
Patients can also experience hallucinations and the feeling of time passing by either slowly or quickly.
Sadly, AIWS has no proven, effective treatment yet. However, a treatment plan consists of migraine prophylaxis and a migraine diet may help.
This neurological syndrome is also called Todd’s Syndrome. This usually presents migraines that can distort a person’s body image, including the size of the head, hands, and feet.
Patients can also experience hallucinations and the feeling of time passing by either slowly or quickly.
Sadly, AIWS has no proven, effective treatment yet. However, a treatment plan consists of migraine prophylaxis and a migraine diet may help.
Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome
The Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome is an extremely rare condition wherein a person goes through a rapid appearance of aging beginning in childhood. It occurs in 1 in 4 million, with more than 131 cases reported in scientific literature globally since 1886.
Its symptoms include:
There is no cure for this condition yet. However, in November 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zokinvy (Lonafarnib), a drug that can help reduce the risk of death due to the disease.
The Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome is an extremely rare condition wherein a person goes through a rapid appearance of aging beginning in childhood. It occurs in 1 in 4 million, with more than 131 cases reported in scientific literature globally since 1886.
Its symptoms include:
- Aged-looking skin
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- Brittle, fragile bones
- Kidney failure
- Joint abnormalities
- Loss of eyesight
- Loss of fat under the skin
There is no cure for this condition yet. However, in November 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zokinvy (Lonafarnib), a drug that can help reduce the risk of death due to the disease.
Pica Syndrome
People with pica compulsively eat items that have no nutritional value. These items could be as harmless as ice and be as toxic as dried paint, chalk, and pieces of metal.
This disorder occurs most often in children, pregnant women, and people with intellectual disabilities. It is said that the unusual cravings may be a sign that the body is trying to replenish low nutrient levels.
Several steps may be taken for proper treatment, such as laboratory tests to see which nutrients are lacking. If it stems from a psychological problem, a psychological evaluation may be done.
People with pica compulsively eat items that have no nutritional value. These items could be as harmless as ice and be as toxic as dried paint, chalk, and pieces of metal.
This disorder occurs most often in children, pregnant women, and people with intellectual disabilities. It is said that the unusual cravings may be a sign that the body is trying to replenish low nutrient levels.
Several steps may be taken for proper treatment, such as laboratory tests to see which nutrients are lacking. If it stems from a psychological problem, a psychological evaluation may be done.
Human Werewolf Syndrome
Hypertrichosis, also known as the Werewolf Syndrome, is characterized by excessive hair growth anywhere on a person’s body, including the face. The hair growth is so thick that the person would resemble a werewolf. While many illnesses have been eradicated because of vaccines, this condition’s cause remains unknown, and there is no existing cure or treatment to manage the symptoms.
Symptoms include:
Hypertrichosis, also known as the Werewolf Syndrome, is characterized by excessive hair growth anywhere on a person’s body, including the face. The hair growth is so thick that the person would resemble a werewolf. While many illnesses have been eradicated because of vaccines, this condition’s cause remains unknown, and there is no existing cure or treatment to manage the symptoms.
Symptoms include:
- Lanugo – type of hair is very soft and fine, like that on the body of a newborn baby. It usually has no pigment.
- Terminal – hair is long and thick and usually very dark.
- Vellus – hair follicles are short. It may be located anywhere but the soles of your feet, backs of your ears, lips, and palms, or on scar tissue.
Morgellons Disease
There’s nothing worse than feeling like a bug is crawling on your skin. Unfortunately for those with Morgellons disease, this crawling sensation is a common occurrence.
The disorder is controversial: Some consider it a skin condition, while others view it as a delusional disorder.
But no matter the cause, people with Morgellons disease may feel something is crawling on, stinging, or biting their skin—and may experience related symptoms like rashes and sores.
There’s nothing worse than feeling like a bug is crawling on your skin. Unfortunately for those with Morgellons disease, this crawling sensation is a common occurrence.
The disorder is controversial: Some consider it a skin condition, while others view it as a delusional disorder.
But no matter the cause, people with Morgellons disease may feel something is crawling on, stinging, or biting their skin—and may experience related symptoms like rashes and sores.
Methemoglobinemia
If you’ve heard of blue skin disorder—where a person’s skin turns a Smurf-like shade of blue—that’s due to the blood disorder methemoglobinemia and the body’s overproduction of methemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin.
Instead of having the typical 1% of methemoglobin in their blood, those with this disease can have up to 20%. This prevents their hemoglobin from properly distributing oxygen throughout the body, resulting in blue skin, purple lips, and brown blood. While the disorder can be inherited, it can also result from exposure to certain chemicals, drugs, and foods.
If you’ve heard of blue skin disorder—where a person’s skin turns a Smurf-like shade of blue—that’s due to the blood disorder methemoglobinemia and the body’s overproduction of methemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin.
Instead of having the typical 1% of methemoglobin in their blood, those with this disease can have up to 20%. This prevents their hemoglobin from properly distributing oxygen throughout the body, resulting in blue skin, purple lips, and brown blood. While the disorder can be inherited, it can also result from exposure to certain chemicals, drugs, and foods.
Tree Man Disease
Tree man disease—or epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV)—is an inherited skin disorder where wart-like lesions develop due to human papillomavirus (HPV). Not just any warts, though: These build up uncontrollably all over the body, resulting in a “tree-like” appearance on the hands and feet that can make them hard to use.
Unfortunately, the condition is currently incurable. But you can treat it by surgically removing the warts and trying to prevent them.
Tree man disease—or epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV)—is an inherited skin disorder where wart-like lesions develop due to human papillomavirus (HPV). Not just any warts, though: These build up uncontrollably all over the body, resulting in a “tree-like” appearance on the hands and feet that can make them hard to use.
Unfortunately, the condition is currently incurable. But you can treat it by surgically removing the warts and trying to prevent them.
Water Allergy
Having a water allergy may seem impossible. After all, water is crucial for survival! But aquagenic urticaria (AU) is a real condition that causes irritation—like itching, redness, and bumps—when your skin touches water. Once the water is gone, the irritation usually resolves within a couple hours.
Since avoiding water is nearly impossible, AU is usually managed with antihistamines, topical agents, and avoiding triggers.
Having a water allergy may seem impossible. After all, water is crucial for survival! But aquagenic urticaria (AU) is a real condition that causes irritation—like itching, redness, and bumps—when your skin touches water. Once the water is gone, the irritation usually resolves within a couple hours.
Since avoiding water is nearly impossible, AU is usually managed with antihistamines, topical agents, and avoiding triggers.
Alien Hand Syndrome
How scary would it be if your hand started thinking for itself? That’s exactly what happens with alien hand syndrome. Several studies have cited instances where someone’s hand felt disconnected from their body—and started acting like it was possessed by someone else. In one case from 2014, a 77-year-old woman’s hand uncontrollably stroked her face and hair. People have also experience their hands raising, waving, or grabbing object. The neurological disorder isn’t thoroughly understood, but it’s thought to result from a brain injuries or strokes.
How scary would it be if your hand started thinking for itself? That’s exactly what happens with alien hand syndrome. Several studies have cited instances where someone’s hand felt disconnected from their body—and started acting like it was possessed by someone else. In one case from 2014, a 77-year-old woman’s hand uncontrollably stroked her face and hair. People have also experience their hands raising, waving, or grabbing object. The neurological disorder isn’t thoroughly understood, but it’s thought to result from a brain injuries or strokes.
