It is hard to determine the number of diseases that exist in the world, according to the World Health Organization, every day there is a new variation in the genetics of an existing virus; there are many syndromes that you probably did not know existed. You’ve heard of people with tics disorders and twitches; these two are only a few of the many rare syndromes that exist in the world.
In this post you will discover the strangest and most interesting syndromes there are, some are so bizarre you will probably doubt if they are real or not.
Stendhal syndrome
Source: lifestyle.americaeconomia.com
This is considered a psychosomatic disorder that affects people who spend too long appreciating art. Neurologists define it as excessive mental pleasure viewing works of art; the symptoms are dizziness, rapid heartbeat, sweating, blurred vision, and hallucinations.
Capgras syndrome
Source: wradio.com
It is a disorder in which a person is concerned with the belief that a person close to them or with whom they have had an emotional bond has been replaced by an identical-looking impostor. This causes feelings of fear and rejection because that person is considered an impostor. There is no explanation of the origin of this disorder which often affects women but is generally produced after the person has suffered a head injury.
Tourette syndrome
Source: salud.ccm.net
This is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocal tics. The first symptoms of this syndrome are often observed during childhood, usually starting between the ages of 7-10 years. Some of the most common tics include excessive blinking, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging and shaking the head; they can get worse if the person gets excited or suffers from anxiety.
Munchausen Syndrome
Source: www.iellas.com
It is psychiatric disorder characterized because people who suffer from it, feign complex diseases in order to draw the attention of people around them. The curious thing about this syndrome is that people who suffer it are aware of their actions and know that they feign symptoms but cannot explain why they do it. Traits of masochism and need for affection are found in people suffering from this disease.
Alice in Wonderland syndrome
Source: depsicologia.com
This is a neurological disorder that affects the visual perception of people who suffer from it. The person perceives objects’ size distortion. Scientists suspect that Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) might have suffered the syndrome so that the experiences of young Alicia were well known by its creator.
Onychophagy
Source: www.infosalus.com
It is the oral compulsive habit of nail biting; this disorder is linked to nervousness and stress. When this habit permanently develops is considered as a symptom of a mental or emotional disorder. Among the negative effects of this disease is carrying germs nail into the oral cavity and vice versa.
Hemispatial neglect
Source: www.webconsultas.com
This is a neuropsychological condition; people who suffer from it have damaged one hemisphere of their brain and they are unable to perceive stimuli on one side of their body.
Fregoli delusion
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This is a mental disorder in which a person believes that different people are actually the same person who is disguised to appear like different individuals. People who suffer from it feel fear and constant stress. This disorder requires psychiatric treatment.
Peter Pan syndrome
Source: www.webconsultas.com
This syndrome affects people who do not want to reach adulthood or have the body of an adult and the mind of a kid. People with this disease cannot develop the roles expected according to the life cycle (parenting or having a couple). This syndrome hinders personal development and hinders social relationships; it is associated with intense feelings of loneliness and feeling of dependence.
Trichotillomania
Source: www.batanga.com
This syndrome affects only 1% of the population in the world; people who suffer from this syndrome have to urge to pull out their hair. It is influenced by depression or stress and it may occur in children, especially between the ages of 9-13 years.
Rapunzel syndrome
Source: www.batanga.com
Scientifically known as trichophagia, it is a disorder in which people eat their own hair. One of the consequences might be having a hairball obstructing the intestinal walls; it can also cause abdominal pressure, loss of appetite, bleeding or weight loss. It only affects a small part of the worldwide population (between 0.6 and 1.6 %).
Dyschronometria
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People who suffer from this syndrome are unable to accurately calculate the amount of time that has passed; they suffer from a distortion in the perception of time. This condition occurs when the cerebellum has been damaged.
Bubble boy syndrome
Source: bioquimicaum.wordpress.com
The SCID syndrome is caused by various genetic mutations. It occurs when the immune system of a child is vulnerable to suffer all kinds of infectious diseases, so they cannot live in a normal environment. This rare genetic disease makes the body vulnerable to many things such as chronic diarrhea, interstitial lung disease, and failure to thrive.
Werewolf syndrome
Source: www.webconsultas.com
This is a genetic disease that affects only 1 out of 1000 million people worldwide. The symptoms are quite obvious; excessive hair growth on the face shoulders and sometimes spreads to other parts of the body. This disease occurs when the chromosome number 8 mutates resulting in having about 5 million more hair follicles than normal.
Congenital insensitivity to pain
Source: www.sobretodosalud.com
This is a medical condition in which the person is not able to feel physical pain, their body is fully functional but cannot feel pain. This disease is very dangerous because the pain warns us and keeps us alert. It is caused by damage to the nerve pathways that are responsible for transmitting sensory information to the brain; in the few cases, patients die at a young age from infections or lacerations that are diagnosed too late.
Cotard delusion
Source: www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve
Also known as walking corpse syndrome, it is a hypochondriac mental disorder, in which people believe they are dead; it is characterized by intense delusions of negation and chronic psychiatric depression.
Dysgeusia
Source: www.noticias24.com
This medical condition is a distortion of the sense of taste. The diagnosis can be complicated because the sense of taste is connected with other sensory systems. People who use drugs are vulnerable to dysgeusia.
Laughter-induced syncope
Source: www.naturhima.com
This syndrome is a very rare form of situational syncope (fainting). People who suffer from this condition faint after laughing vigorously, there is not much information about because it is an extremely rare condition.
Exploding head syndrome
Source: contenido.com.mx
This is a condition in which people hear imaginary loud noises, like an explosion or gunshot, when they’re trying to fall asleep or waking up. There is still no scientific explanation for this disorder.
Alien hand syndrome
Source: blyjak/istock/thinkstock
This is a rare neurological disorder characterized by involuntary and uncontrollable movements in one of the upper limbs. People who suffer from this condition might even reach for objects without them wanting to do so; there is no treatment for this syndrome.
