Have you ever heard of a disease that makes you feel like you’re turning into a werewolf? How about one where your hand seems to have a mind of its own?
The human body and mind can sometimes exhibit truly bizarre and rare conditions that seem straight out of science fiction.
Let’s take a look at some unusual diseases you probably never knew existed.
1. Werewolf syndrome
Hypertrichosis, also known as werewolf syndrome, doesn’t involve any actual transformations, but people with Hypertrichosis can grow an excessive amount of hair all over their body. This can make individuals appear as if they have fur, leading to the moniker “werewolf syndrome.” This condition can be caused by medications, genetics, or even malnutrition. While there are several medications that can help manage the symptoms, there is no cure. For some, this condition can be merely inconvenient, while for others it can lead to social isolation and depression.
2. Exploding head syndrome
This syndrome isn’t quite as dramatic as the name suggests, but it certainly is strange. People with Exploding Head Syndrome experience sudden, loud noises in their head, described as bangs, booms, or claps of thunder. These noises are not audible to anyone else and are not caused by any external stimuli. The exact cause of Exploding Head Syndrome is unknown, but it is thought to be a neurological condition.
3. Foreign accent syndrome
Ever heard someone speak with an accent they weren’t born with? For people with Foreign Accent Syndrome, this is their reality. This rare condition causes a person to develop a foreign accent after a stroke, head injury, or other neurological event. The person may not even be aware of the change in their speech patterns.
4. Pica
Pica is a disorder where individuals have a compulsion to eat non-food items, such as dirt, chalk, or even metal. This condition can lead to serious health issues, including poisoning and digestive problems.
Pica is often associated with nutritional deficiencies or mental health conditions and requires medical and psychological intervention to address the underlying causes and prevent harmful behaviours
5. Stoneman syndrome
Also known as Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, this rare disease causes muscle, tendons, and ligaments to turn into bone. Over time, this can lead to the complete ossification (turning to bone) of the body, leaving the person essentially a living statue. Thankfully, Stoneman Syndrome is extremely rare.
6. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
This syndrome isn’t caused by falling down a rabbit hole, but it can make you feel like you have. People with Alice in Wonderland Syndrome experience distortions in visual perception, such as seeing objects as larger or smaller than they actually are. These distortions can be frightening and disorienting. The cause of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is unknown, but it is thought to be related to migraines or epilepsy.
7. Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome
This heartbreaking condition is also known as Progeria. Children with Progeria experience a rapid form of ageing that begins in early childhood.
Symptoms include hair loss, wrinkled skin, and a loss of body fat. Progeria is a genetic disorder with no cure, but there are treatments that can help to improve the quality of life for children with this condition.
These are just a few examples of the many weird and wonderful (or perhaps disturbing) diseases that exist in the world. The human body is a complex machine, and sometimes things go a little haywire.
