Science has made significant progress in medicine - now it is possible to cope with diseases that our ancestors only dreamed of defeating. However, there are still diseases that make doctors shrug their shoulders in disbelief. The origin of some of them is unknown, or they affect the body in completely incredible ways. Perhaps one day it will be possible to explain these strange diseases and cope with them, but so far they still remain a mystery to humanity.
From people who can dance themselves to death, to water allergies, here are 25 incredibly strange but real diseases that science cannot explain!
Acute flabby myelitis
Myelitis is an inflammation of the spinal cord. It is sometimes called polio syndrome. It is a neurological disorder that affects children and leads to weakness or paralysis. Small patients experience constant pain in joints and muscles. Until the end of the 1950s, poliomyelitis was a formidable disease, the epidemics of which in various countries claimed many thousands of lives. Of the sick, about 10% died, and another 40% became disabled.
After the invention of the vaccine, scientists argued that the disease had been defeated. But, despite assurances from the WHO, polio has not yet given up - its outbreaks occur from time to time in different countries. At the same time, already vaccinated people are sick, since the virus of Asian origin has acquired an unusual mutation.
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Congenital Berardinelli Lipodystrophy - Seip (SLBS)
This is a condition characterized by an acute shortage of adipose tissue in the body and its deposition in atypical places, such as the liver. Because of these strange symptoms, SLBS patients have a very distinctive appearance - they seem very muscular, almost like superheroes. They also tend to have prominent facial bones and enlarged genitals.
With one of the two known types of SLBS, doctors have also found a mild mental disorder, but this is not the biggest problem for patients. This unusual distribution of adipose tissue leads to serious problems, more specifically to high blood fat levels and insulin resistance, while the accumulation of fat in the liver or heart can lead to severe organ damage and even sudden death.
Sleeping sickness
This disease was terrifying when it first appeared in the early 20th century. At first, the patients began to hallucinate, and then they became paralyzed. It seemed as if they were asleep, but in reality these people were conscious. Many died at this stage, and the survivors suffered terrible behavior problems for the rest of their lives (Parkinson's syndrome). The epidemic of this disease no longer manifested itself, and doctors to this day do not know what caused it, although many versions have been put forward (a virus, an immune reaction that destroys the brain). Presumably, Adolf Hitler was ill with lethargic encephalitis, and subsequent parkinsonism could influence his rash decisions.
Exploding head syndrome
Patients hear incredibly loud explosions in their own heads and sometimes see flashes of light that do not exist in reality, and doctors have no idea why. This is a poorly understood phenomenon that is referred to as sleep disorders. The causes of this syndrome, which is more common in women than men, are still unknown. It usually manifests itself against a background of lack (deprivation) of sleep. Recently, an increasing number of young people have been suffering from this syndrome.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
This phenomenon is a sudden death from respiratory arrest of an apparently healthy infant or child, in which an autopsy does not allow determining the cause of the death. Sometimes SIDS is called "death in the cradle", because it may not be preceded by any signs, often the child dies in his sleep. The causes of this syndrome are still not known.
Aquagenic urticaria
Also known as water allergy. Patients experience a painful skin reaction upon contact with water. This is a real disease, although very rare. Only about 50 cases are described in the medical literature. Water intolerance causes a severe allergic response, sometimes even to rain, snow, sweat, or tears. The manifestations are usually more severe in women, and the first symptoms are found during puberty. The causes of water allergy are unclear, but symptoms can be treated with antihistamines.
Brainerd's diarrhea
Named after the city where the first such case was recorded (Brainerd, Minnesota, USA). Sufferers who have contracted this infection visit the toilet 10-20 times a day. Diarrhea is often accompanied by nausea, cramps, and constant fatigue.
In 1983, there were eight outbreaks of Brainerd's diarrhea, six of them in the United States. But the first was still the largest - 122 people were ill in a year. There are suspicions that the disease occurs after drinking fresh milk - but still it is not clear why it torments a person for so long.
Severe visual hallucinations, or Charles Bonnet syndrome
A condition during which patients experience rather vivid and complex hallucinations despite the fact that they suffer from partial or complete loss of vision due to old age or diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma.
Although there are few reported cases of the disease, it is believed to be widespread among the elderly with blindness. Between 10 and 40% of blind people suffer from Charles Bonnet syndrome. Fortunately, unlike the other conditions listed here, the symptoms of severe visual hallucinations disappear on their own after a year or two as the brain begins to adjust to the loss of vision.
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity
Rather a mental illness than a physical one. Patients believe that their various symptoms are caused by electromagnetic fields. However, doctors have found that humans cannot distinguish between real and fake fields. Why do they still believe this? This is usually associated with conspiracy theory.
Constrained person syndrome
During the development of this syndrome, the patient's muscles become more and more constrained until he is completely paralyzed. Doctors aren't sure what exactly causes these symptoms; probable hypotheses include diabetes and mutating genes.
Nodding syndrome
It opened in East Africa in 2010. Mostly children suffer from it: patients constantly nod their heads, which often leads to malnutrition and stunted growth. Doctors speculate that the disease could be caused by parasites, but they are not sure.
Allotriophagy
This disease is characterized by the use of inedible substances. People suffering from this disease have a constant urge to consume various types of non-food substances instead of food, including dirt, glue. That is, everything that comes to hand during an exacerbation. Doctors still have not found either the real cause of the disease or the method of treatment.
English sweat
English sweat, or English sweating fever, is an infectious disease of unknown etiology with a very high mortality rate, which visited Europe (primarily Tudor England) several times between 1485 and 1551. The illness began with chills, dizziness and headache, as well as pain in the neck, shoulders, and limbs. Then began a fever and intense sweat, thirst, increased heart rate, delirium, pain in the heart. There were no rashes on the skin. A characteristic symptom of the disease was severe drowsiness, which often preceded the onset of death after exhausting sweat: it was believed that if a person was allowed to sleep, he would not wake up.
At the end of the 16th century, "English sweating fever" suddenly disappeared and since then has never appeared anywhere else, so now one can only speculate about the nature of this very unusual and mysterious disease.
Peruvian meteorite disease
When a meteorite fell near the village of Carancas in Peru, the locals who approached the crater fell ill with an unknown illness that caused severe nausea. Doctors believe the cause was arsenic poisoning from a meteorite.
Blaszko lines
The disease is characterized by the appearance of unusual streaks throughout the body. This disease was first discovered by a German dermatologist in 1901. The main symptom of the disease is the appearance of visible asymmetrical stripes on the human body. Anatomy still cannot explain such a phenomenon as Blaschko Lines. There is an assumption that these lines are embedded in human DNA since time immemorial and are hereditary.
Kuru disease, or laughing death
The Fore cannibal tribe, living in the mountains of New Guinea, was discovered only in 1932. The members of this tribe suffered from the fatal disease kuru, the name of which in their language has two meanings - "trembling" and "corruption". Fauré believed that illness was the result of the evil eye of a stranger shaman. The main signs of the disease are tremors and jerky head movements, sometimes accompanied by a smile similar to that found in tetanus patients. In the initial stage, the disease manifests itself as dizziness and fatigue. Then headache, cramps and, in the end, typical tremors are added. Within several months, the brain tissue degrades, turning into a spongy mass, after which the patient dies.
The disease spread through ritual cannibalism, namely the eating of the brain of the person suffering from this disease. With the eradication of cannibalism, kuru has all but disappeared.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome
It usually develops during childhood. The symptoms are quite understandable - recurrent bouts of vomiting and nausea. Doctors do not know what exactly is the cause of this disorder. It is only clear that people with this disease can suffer from nausea for days or weeks. In the case of one patient, the most acute attack was that she vomited 100 times per day. This usually happens 40 times a day, mainly due to stress or in a state of nervous excitement. Seizures are impossible to predict.
Blue skin syndrome, or acanthokeratoderma
People with this diagnosis have blue or plum skin color. In the last century, a whole family of blue people lived in the US state of Kentucky. They were called the Blue Fugates. By the way, besides this hereditary disease, they did not have any other diseases, and most of this family lived for more than 80 years.
Morgellon disease
It is characterized by skin lesions, while patients complain that insects or worms crawl and bite under their skin, and also claim that they find certain fibers under their skin. It is not known whether this is a new disease or just a confusion of existing ones. For a long time, the medical community did not recognize this syndrome. It was believed that such injuries can be caused by the patients themselves, who suffer from "delusional parasitosis" or "delusional infection". In other words, it was suspected that such people have a mental illness.
Twentieth century disease
Also known as multiple chemical sensitivities. The disease is characterized by adverse reactions to various modern chemicals and products, including plastics and synthetic fibers. As with electromagnetic sensitivity, patients do not respond unless they know they are interacting with chemicals.
Chorea
The most famous incident of this disease occurred in 1518 in Strasbourg, France, when a woman named Frau Troffey started dancing for no reason. Hundreds of people joined her over the next few weeks, and in the end many of them died of exhaustion. The probable causes are mass poisoning or mental illness.
Progeria (Progeria), Hutchinson-Guildford syndrome
Children afflicted with this disease look like they are ninety years old. Progeria is caused by a defect in a person's genetic code. This disease has unavoidable and detrimental consequences for humans. Most of those born with this disease die by the age of 13, as the aging process is accelerated in their bodies. Progeria is extremely rare. This disease is seen in only 48 people around the world, five of whom are relatives, therefore, it is also considered hereditary.
Porphyria
Some scientists believe that it was this disease that gave rise to myths and legends about vampires and werewolves. Why? The skin of patients afflicted with this disease blisters and "boils" when exposed to sunlight, and their gums "dry out", which makes their teeth look like canines. Do you know what's the strangest thing? The stool turns purple.
The causes of this disease are still not well understood. It is known to be hereditary and is associated with improper synthesis of red blood cells. Many scientists are inclined to believe that in most cases it occurs as a result of incest.
Gulf War Syndrome
A disease that afflicts Gulf War veterans. The symptoms range from insulin resistance to loss of muscle control. Doctors believe the disease was caused by the use of depleted uranium in weapons (including chemical weapons).
Maine Jumping Frenchman Syndrome
The main symptom of this disease is a strong fear if something unexpected happens to the patient. At the same time, a person susceptible to illness jumps up, starts screaming, waves his arms, stumbles, falls, starts rolling on the floor and cannot calm down for a long time. This disease was first recorded in the United States back in 1878 in a Frenchman, hence its name. Described by George Miller Byrd, the disease only affected French-Canadian loggers in northern Maine. Doctors believe it is a genetic disorder.