Medicine is an infinitely interesting science. All the most curious medical cases are somehow connected with a miracle: with the miraculous capabilities of the human body, science, or even human stupidity. Here are 10 stories, each of which could easily become part of the series "House Doctor". Or, if you think about it, a horror movie.
Sudoku cramp
In 2008, a 25-year-old man was caught in an avalanche while skiing. A hip fracture and a ruptured spleen required hospitalization and treatment. But when, it would seem, everything was already behind, a new and very strange symptom appeared. The victim, trying to keep himself busy in the hospital, took up Sudoku. And each time, trying to solve the puzzle, he experienced convulsions in his left hand, which disappeared as soon as he put off the Sudoku. After conducting a number of studies, doctors came to the conclusion: being buried by an avalanche, the patient was without oxygen for some time and suffered from hypoxia. As a result, the part of the brain that is responsible for the spatial perception of information was damaged. A man, solving Sudoku, perceived the puzzle as a three-dimensional space, and this caused convulsions. The doctors were able to give only one piece of advice - to give up Sudoku.
Brain teeth
Doctors in Maryland removed a brain tumor from a four-month-old baby, which revealed numerous fully formed teeth. A benign formation - craniopharyngioma - develops from embryonic cells. Scientists had previously suspected that a tumor is formed from the same cells as teeth, finding calcium in it. The case described was the first obvious evidence. By the way, there is another tumor, teratoma, which can contain various tissues and even entire organs.
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Potato contraceptive
In 2014, a young Colombian woman was hospitalized with acute abdominal pain. During the examination, the gynecologist found in the patient … potatoes. A young woman used a potato as a contraceptive, and as a result, the plant took root and sprouted into her body. The doctors performed a simple, but unique operation. It is noteworthy that the woman did not come up with such a method of contraception herself: she was advised by his own mother. From this we can draw a sad conclusion about the low level of medical literacy.
Deadly pepper
Bhut Jolokia, "ghost pepper", is a variety of chili peppers that is considered one of the hottest peppers in the world. Its Scoville pungency index is estimated at 1,040,000 SHU (for comparison: Tabasco has a rating of 2,500-5,000 SHU, and jalapenos up to 8,000 SHU). Bhut Jolokia peppers are so pungent that they can cause temporary blindness. In 2016, an American took part in a competition and ate a hamburger topped with mashed pepper. As a result - urgent hospitalization, a hole in the esophagus with a diameter of 2.5 cm and collapse of the lung. Fortunately, the man was saved. But if no urgent help was provided, he could have died.
Childbirth at 70
The famous phrase "the clock is ticking", urging women to give birth as early as possible, may lose its relevance: in 2016, a resident of India became a mother for the first time at the age of 70, having given birth to a child from her 79-year-old husband. She managed to get pregnant after a two-year course of IVF. Of course, to bear a child requires good health, but still science does not stand still, and who knows - perhaps soon the concept of a "young mother" will greatly shift its age limits.
A writer who is not a reader
On July 31, 2001, the Canadian writer Howard Engel opened the morning newspaper and … could not recognize the letters. He saw the text in his native language like unfamiliar hieroglyphs. With all the clarity of consciousness, the words did not decompose into letters familiar from childhood and turned into some kind of ligature that the brain could not read - this turned out to be one of the consequences of a recent stroke. For all the tragedy of the situation (a writer who has lost the ability to read!), He continued his literary work. The author's brain remembered perfectly how to write words. Engel was still masterful at composing and could even record, because at that moment the motor memory was already working. Problems started when he tried to reread what he had written. This reading disorder is called alexia and is often accompanied by agraphia (inability to write) and aphasia (speech impairment) with complete intelligence intact.
Green man
This could be called not only extraterrestrial beings, but also a resident of China, who in 2013 suddenly turned green. Not only the skin was colored emerald, but also the whites of the eyes. What happened - vitamin deficiency, toxins, mutation? It turned out that the snails were to blame. The patient ate snails every day, which, as it turned out, were infected with parasites, which eventually settled in the human liver, blocking the secretion of bile. The snail victim was successfully healed and sent home with the main recommendation: to cook food properly.
Surgical marriage
In 2005, a 59-year-old American woman came out of anesthesia after thyroid surgery. At first she was struck by pain, which pierced her entire face, and when she looked in the mirror, she could not recognize herself: her face was disfigured. It turned out that the patient accidentally received second and third degree burns during the operation. It sounds crazy, but in fact, such incidents are not uncommon. The operating room uses oxygen, instruments that are heated, and flammable materials - in general, a complete set to start a sudden fire. According to statistics, fires during surgery occur 500-600 times a year, and 20-30 of them end in additional injuries for the patient.
Frostbite from compressed air
In 2015, a 40-year-old American was taken to hospital with severe frostbite after using three cans of compressed air for four hours, which he involuntarily inhaled. This contact caused severe airway swelling and skin damage. An aerosol can of compressed air is often used in everyday life, including for cleaning equipment and electronics. The liquefied 1,1-difluoroethane contained in a compressed air canister can cause frostbite and swelling.
Smartphone blindness
Don't worry, this is temporary blindness. Several similar cases have been reported in the UK and they all have a big picture. So, blindness arose after using a smartphone by a person lying on its side before bedtime, spreading only to one eye and disappearing soon after waking up. Doctors came to the conclusion - the reason for this is the smartphone. When a person lies on his side, he often does not realize that he is looking with only one eye, while the other is practically closed. It turns out that one eye adapts to the dark, and the other to a bright screen. One has only to turn off the smartphone, the second eye, focused on bright light, temporarily loses the ability to see. A similar effect occurs when a person suddenly enters a dark room from a brightly lit room. There is no reason to consider a smartphone hazardous to eyesight at the moment.
Natalya Polytsya