6 Rare, Bizarre Medical Conditions You Have Never Heard Of Before!

I mentioned in my first post that I would write on this topic so here it is! You will leave away, perhaps, feeling a little bit queasy, intrigued but mostly amazed at how the human body works! Warning: Some of the images shared in this post will be graphic. Here are six rare medical conditions:

• Auto-brewery Syndrome

The first one to be shared because hey, it is St.Patrick's Day!
Auto-brewery syndrome also known as Gut Fermentation. A reported case of this syndrome is of a 61 year old man in Texas who had an infection of Baker's yeast turning his intestines into a brewery. The yeast converted starch and sugars into ethanol (alcohol) which got him drunk every day.

• Hyperekplexia or Startle Syndrome

Genetically inherited this neurological disorder affects infants, newborns, even children and adults. This disorder leads to different symptoms such as excessive startle reaction like eye-blinking, body spasms or all together muscle tension which causes stiffness and hypertonia preventing voluntary movement all caused by sudden, unexpected loud noises (bang or clap). The latter also results in the person falling over stiffly like a 'fainting goat.'

• Cotard's Delusion

Another mysterious neurological condition, this makes people believe that parts of their body or themselves have died and no longer exist. Believing they are "walking dead" some spend time hanging around graveyards to feel close to home. Creepy. A possible, effective treatment for this medical condition is electroconvulsive therapy.

• Spontaneous Human Combustion

Along with being rare this phenomenon has never been explained, disproved or proven. A person catching on fire without any spark or ignition like the Human Torch? There are several reported cases where the victims burned completely without their surrounding untouched. In these cases it is noted that though completely consumed by the fire and charred beyond recognition the extremities of bodies such as hands, feet or part of their legs may be unburned. Very Strange.

• Muscle Hypertrophy

As the name suggests, this condition inhibits muscle growth when the body stops producing myostatin. Toddlers with this condition are able to lift 5lb weights or even have six pack abs!

• Persistant Genital Arousal Disorder

This one I had actually heard of before, rather watched an episode on it in Grey's Anatomy. Hehe. If you haven't guessed it yet, this condition leads a person (their genitals) to constantly feel aroused due to an irregular nervous system. An orgasm helps provide temporary relief but so far there is no known cure.

•     Being born 'en caul.' Also known as Veiled Birth.

The point above probably didn't make much sense but when you see the pictures below you'll understand.

This is Silas Phillips, born three months premature in February this year. He was born with the amniotic sac still intact.

When a woman goes into labour and her "water-breaks" that's the amniotic sac rupturing. Being born still inside the amniotic sac is extremely rare - around one in 80,000 births. Silas was still able to get oxygen through the placenta till the bag or sac was broken. Another famous birth in the same way was Jessica Alba's daughter, Haven. 

Which one did you think was the most bizarre? Share your thoughts in the comments! 

Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTuIlX4XpT8

http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/unexplained-phenomena/shc.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2966893/Baby-born-INSIDE-amniotic-sac-hailed-medical-miracle-doctors.html