Let's delve into the world of strange and mysterious illnesses, conditions, and afflictions. Far removed from the common cold or the average twisted ankle, these ailments serve to remind us just how complex and astounding the human body is.So, just in case you were feeling sorry for yourself because you have a touch of arthritis or an irritating rash, you can take comfort in knowing that you aren't suffering from any of these:
Lycanthropy
Simply put, lycanthropy is a condition that causes the sufferer to believe that he has magically been transformed into an animal, most commonly a werewolf.The mythical werewolf, as portrayed on-screen and in science fiction, probably has its roots in man's attempt to understand what was happening to the victims of conditions such as rabies, hence the belief that a person can become a werewolf after being bitten by an animal.
Clinical lycanthropy, however, is associated with a rare form of schizophrenia, or, more commonly, is a result of organic brain damage. The delusion can also be fuelled by the person's shame or revulsion at his own behaviour. In other words, in order to disassociate himself from offensive acts he is unable to stop, something deep in his psyche convinces him that he is only doing these things because he is a werewolf.
The life of the lycanthrope is a lonely one; he tends to steer clear of loved ones to protect them from his uncontrollable aggression. While this may be distressing to family and friends, it might also come as a small relief to them, since lycanthropes aren't too particular about personal hygiene and enjoy a diet of raw meat.
Münchausen Syndrome
Patients with Münchausen Syndrome are the bane of anyone practicing medicine. Sufferers of this psychiatric disorder are so eager for medical attention, sympathy, treatment and comfort that they falsify or even engineer their ailments and injuries. Also known as 'hospital addiction syndrome', the condition causes sufferers to compulsively seek out medical treatment, even extreme procedures such as surgery.
They are often well-versed in medical knowledge, enough to lie convincingly to doctors in order to obtain medications, undergo tests, and, in extreme cases, persuade them to perform invasive procedures. If a patient isn't sick enough to garner the sympathy he craves, he may make himself sicker by injecting himself with impurities, thus causing an infection, throwing himself down a flight of stairs in order to break a limb, or deliberately exposing himself to an infectious disease.
Münchausen syndrome is different from hypochondria, in that hypochondriacs genuinely believe that they are ill, whereas those with Münchausen syndrome are fully aware that they are faking or deliberately bringing about their own pain and suffering. To them, though, it's all for the greater good: that comforting reassurance they get while being the centre of attention.
Hairdresser's Nipple
If this condition sounds scary, take heart: it is not likely to become an epidemic! It was documented by the British Medical Journal in 1998 as being suffered by exactly one person. The victim, a hairdresser, was experiencing painful, recurrent breast infections. After some investigation, doctors discovered small, sharp male hairs had penetrated her areolas (the pigmented area surrounding the nipple), causing them to become infected and inflamed. They further deduced that the hairs had penetrated her clothing while she was leaning over and brushing against her male clients during haircuts.
More common perhaps, and well known to marathoners, is Jogger's Nipple: redness, soreness, and even bleeding of the nipple caused by constant abrasion by the sufferer's shirt during a long run. This is easily prevented by smearing the area with petroleum jelly or applying bandages before the starter's gun goes off.
Underload syndrome
Finally, slackers beware: extreme boredom can have the same effect on the body as stress. Have you ever noticed that as soon as you go on vacation you find yourself getting sick? That's because, according to studies performed at the University of Northumbria, people who are normally busy can react to inactivity by experiencing sudden elevations in blood pressure. Furthermore, goofing off for long periods of time can result in headaches, fatigue, recurrent infections and mild depression.
So do yourself a favour: get up, shake a leg, and make yourself useful around the house. You might be saving yourself a lot of grief-while putting a grateful smile on someone else's face.
(U The Caribbean Health Digest)