Strange Medical Conditions You Won’t Believe Are Real

Alice In Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS)

Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a disease that affects the perception of size. AIWS is named after Alice In Wonderland because patients who suffer from it may perceive themselves, their body parts, or objects to be smaller or bigger than they truly are, similar to when Alice shrinks or grows to get herself out of a difficult situation. However, AIWS is not as cheerful as Lewis Carroll’s best-selling novels. Symptoms of AIWS usually include migraines, loss of sense of time, and hallucinations. Migraines, psychoactive drugs, brain tumors, temporal lobe epilepsy, and Epstein-Barr virus infections can all cause AIWS.

There is no cure for AIWS, and chronic cases must wear themselves out, but it can be treated with anticonvulsants, antidepressants, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers.

Now that you know what’s down the rabbit hole with AIWS, continue reading to learn about the final scary and strange medical condition.

Lymphatic Filariasis And Elephantiasis

Lymphatic Filariasis is a parasitic infection that impairs the lymphatic system, causing abnormal growth of body parts, pain, and disability. The infection is caused when parasites are transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Most cases of lymphatic filariasis show no physical signs whatsoever. However, the infection will cause damage to the patient’s lymphatic system, kidneys, and may alter their immune system. If the infection is left untreated, it can lead to lymphedema - the swelling of tissue - or elephantiasis, which is the thickening of the skin and tissue on the limbs.

Lymphatic filariasis and elephantiasis can both be combated by stopping the spreading of infection through preventative chemotherapy treatments.