Disease is common, affecting every person at some point in their life. However, there are those unlucky few who contract some the rarer diseases—those that seem to do the most damage and are often the hardest to treat, let alone cure. Here are 10 diseases and disorders you really want to avoid.

10 Trigeminal Neuralgia

This particular disorder affects the fifth cranial nerve, one of the most widely spread in a person’s face. Known to hospitals as the “suicide disease,” there are two types. Type 1 is the acute, involving unbelievable pain shooting through the sufferer’s face that lasts for as long as two minutes. These attacks can be joined together over a period of two hours of agony.

Type 2 is less painful than Type 1, but still one of the hardest hits the human body can take. It is constant, rather than sporadic, with a painful burning or electric shock feeling lasting for years. Regular pain medication like morphine has no effect and anti-convulsion drugs often lose their effectiveness. Various surgical procedures have shown mild success, but are rarely anything more than temporary fixes.

9 Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever

First diagnosed in 1967 after an outbreak in a number of labs throughout Germany and Yugoslavia, Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a disease nearly identical to that caused by the Ebola virus. Monkeys who had been imported from Africa were infected and spread the disease while they were being used for polio research. So far, it is extremely rare, with less than 1,000 cases reported to date, and it’s almost always found in Central Africa.

The African fruit bat is believed to be the main source of infection, though how it spreads to humans isn’t quite known at this point. The initial symptoms are extremely close to much more common diseases such as malaria, so proper diagnosis can be quite tricky. If the infection is severe enough, bleeding in the mouth and rectum and neurologic problems arise. Due to the lack of scientific knowledge about the Marburg fever, there is no established treatment, but plasma and blood protein transplants have shown good results. As of right now, the fatality rate is wide-ranging, ranging from 23–90 percent.

8 Cancrum Oris

More commonly known as noma, cancrum oris is a gangrenous infection which attacks the facial tissue of its victims, usually children under the age of 6. Especially prevalent in poverty-stricken areas of Africa, not only does the disease have an extremely high fatality rate (80 percent), but those who survive are left horribly disfigured and often ostracized. Affecting nearly 100,000 children every year, the antibodies in the sufferer’s body get confused and turn on the soft tissue in the cheek, mouth, and nose.

Due to the swift progress of the disease, those infected are quickly disabled, unable to speak or eat normally. The disease has only made brief appearances in Europe and North American since its eradication over 100 years ago, most notably in the Nazi concentration camps. Antibiotics can stop the spread at the first sight of a lesion but they are often unavailable or too expensive.

7 Adhesive Capsulitis

Known by the catchier name of “frozen shoulder,” this disorder causes the sufferer’s shoulder to become so painful and stiff that it is virtually impossible to do anything with their arm. In addition, sleep can be difficult to come by, causing a myriad other health issues like depression and anxiety. As of now, there is no known cause for frozen shoulder, but diabetes and injuries or surgeries in the area are considered to be risk factors.

Frozen shoulder affects an estimated 2 percent of the population at some point in their lives, making it one of the most common disorders on this list, and it is extremely hard to treat. Even with regular medication and constant physical rehabilitation, it can take up to a year to restore mobility. Although there have been cases where it went away on its own, it usually took up to two years to resolve itself.

6 Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Formally known as “reflex sympathetic dystrophy,” CRPS is a lifelong systemic disease which manifests itself as extreme burning pain, bone and skin changes, and unbelievable sensitivity to touch. It’s one of the most painful diseases in the world, ranked above childbirth and amputation on the McGill Pain Index, a method of evaluating pain developed in the early 1970s. Initially believed to be a systemic failure of the sympathetic nervous system, researchers now believe it is triggered by trauma, especially to the extremities. However, this is just a guess as of right now, which is one of the reasons there is no cure.

Various treatments have achieved a modicum of success, including one brought to us by the wisdom of tech support—“Have you tried turning it off and on again?” In 2003, a 14-year-old girl underwent treatment which consisted of a medically-induced coma with the intent of “resetting” the pain connections in her body. This is generally considered a last-ditch effort, as it carries enormous risk and numerous potential side effects.

5 Aquagenic Urticaria

Aquagenic urticaria is better known as an allergy to water. Though not a true allergy, as no histamine is actually released by the body, the disorder still presents with painful rashes that break out wherever water touches the skin. Usually within an hour after contact with water, the sufferer will end up with small wheals, which are raised, reddened areas also known as papules. It’s an extremely rare disorder, with only 100 reported cases worldwide.

Some scientists believe there may be a genetic component to the disorder, as there has been no evidence of transmission from person to person. However, most cases take place in separate families, with only a few happening to relatives. While some cases can be quite gentle, most are extremely painful, with sufferers resorting to either extremely short baths or none at all in order to avoid the pain.

4 Brainerd Diarrhea

As you can probably guess from the name, this disease is a severe, acute form of diarrhea first described after an outbreak in Brainerd, Minnesota. The exact reason for the contraction is unknown to scientists at this time, but it may be caused by the consumption of contaminated water or raw milk. Sufferers experience 10–20 episodes of explosive, watery diarrhea every day. Nearly all of the recorded outbreaks have taken place in the United States, though there have only been eight since it was first discovered.

Brainerd diarrhea can last for months—even up to a year—with no respite for those afflicted because it’s extremely resistant to any form of antimicrobial treatment. Drugs like Imodium have been reported to offer some relief, but only in very high doses. Because the exact source of the disease is unknown, there is no known preventative measure, other than to boil all well water and avoid unpasteurized milk.

3 Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder in which the red blood cells form abnormally, taking the shape of a crescent or sickle. In addition, there aren’t enough blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body. Those afflicted with SCA also lose the defective blood cells up to 12 times faster than those without the disorder.

A mutation in one of the genes responsible for hemoglobin is the root cause of the disorder and it seems to be most prevalent among those whose ancestors lived in areas where malaria was common. The symptoms vary person to person, but fatigue and chronic pain is extremely common and never goes away. Thanks to modern medicine, it isn’t the killer that it once was, with many people making it to their 60s and beyond. However, while blood and marrow stem cell transplants have shown some promise, there is still no cure.

2 Adiposis Dolorosa

For anyone familiar with Latin or the TV show Doctor Who, it will be obvious that this particular disease has to do with fat. Also known as “Dercum’s disease” after the doctor who first described it, sufferers are plagued with tumors called lipomas all over their torso. Nearly all of those who get this disease are obese women between the ages of 35–50.

With no known cure or cause, Dercum’s disease is believed to perhaps have a genetic component to it, as it does seem to run in some families. Other scientists theorize that it is an autoimmune disorder, as healthy tissue is attacked by the body. Tthe only treatments available for this extremely painful condition focus on one symptom at a time, utilizing pain medications and weight loss strategies. Liposuction has shown some mild success at treating the disease.

1 Ondine’s Curse

For those of you unfamiliar with French or German folk tales and mythology, Ondine was a nymph who took a mortal as her lover, who swore that each one of his breaths would be a testament of his love for her. After he committed adultery, Ondine—or her father, in some versions—cursed the cheater to stop breathing the next time he fell asleep. Otherwise known as “congenital central hypoventilation syndrome,” sufferers lack the function of the autonomic nervous system which regulates breathing. This means that they have to consciously remember to breathe.

When they sleep, most are hooked up to ventilators. If they are able to survive into adulthood, the sleep masks used to treat sleep apnea tend to work well enough to enable them to live relatively normal lives. Genetics are believed to play a major role as the cause of the disease, though it has appeared in adults after major surgery or trauma.

[Please note that this list is entirely false and filled with foolishness. Happy April Fools’ Day!]

10Digestive Entero Auto-Deliquescence

The human body’s digestive juices are incredibly strong. Isolated from the body, gastric acid would be powerful enough to eat through solid wood, and only the stomach’s unique structure keeps you from digesting yourself. Mucus protects your cells, and the cells also produce alkaline fluid, which neutralizes acids that come too close. If the acid manages to get past these defenses, you may suffer from a peptic ulcer.

As painful as ulcers are, they usually aren’t too dangerous because, again, your stomach and intestines have some defenses against gastric acid. Other parts of the body aren’t so lucky. If your acid backs up unpredictably through digestive vessels, such as the bile duct or cystic duct, you’ll get hit with digestive entero auto-deliquescence, in which your own body’s juices dissolve your internal organs.

One of the particularly troubling elements of the condition is the lack of symptoms before the rapid onset of organ failure. Though the stomach and the esophagus respond to excess acid by sending your brain signals of sharp pain, many lesser ducts connected to the digestive tract have a totally different type of nerve. You have no normal way to detect the presence of acid in these passages until they suddenly deliver their corrosive contents. The acid then often enters the large intestine, but it may also (and much more seriously) enter the gallbladder or even the liver, resulting in unconsciousness followed by swift death.

People structurally weak in their anatomical core have a higher risk of digestive entero auto-deliquescence. While in a sitting position, try bending forward so your head touches your legs halfway between your hips and your knees. Attempt to relax your abdominal muscles, and then touch your abdomen just below the ribcage. If this area stays rigid with no effort, you are not especially vulnerable.

9Peabody’s Diminution

Special thanks to the Peabody estate

Ever had a really bad migraine? Is your favorite baseball cap a little looser than it used to be? If you touch your earlobe with your thumb, does your pinky finger reach the outside edge of your opposite eye? If so, you might be experiencing the beginnings of a dangerous malady—Peabody’s Diminution.

Stop for a minute and think of all the radiation flying around the world today. These days, radios are in everything: cell phones, GPS units, microwave ovens . . . even clock-radios. And there’s ample evidence that radio waves are the evil guiding force behind a slow-acting malady that’s taking the globe by (silent) storm.

The first sufferer was a Mr. Whittaker Peabody, an early test subject of Thomas Edison’s. When radio waves were first discovered, Edison (known for a bit of cruelty in his experiments) picked one man to test the effects of the waves on. After several years of direct exposure to the skull, Mr. Peabody’s head began to shrink. He reported crippling migraines and excruciating pain. He soon left Edison’s employ, but the effects continued until his head was about the size of his fist.

All photos and records of the tests have been suppressed by the government, doubtless part of some mind control scheme. The above is probably the only one in existence and has held its terrible secret all these years. We only learned of it through the gracious cooperation of the Peabody estate, although they will certainly face repercussions for allowing us to publish the story and the photo.

8Adulescens Inferno

Acne is a normal part of growing up. Eight out of ten teens and preteens do battle with blackheads and pimples on a daily basis. While the cause isn’t fully understood, hormones and bacteria definitely play a key role. But there’s also adulescens inferno. First discovered in 1988 in a small village outside La Salina, Colombia, this highly aggressive retrovirus is a teenager’s worst nightmare. Adulescens inferno makes itself at home in the epidermis, conquering skin cell after skin cell. As it dominates the derma, it causes an eruption of highly contagious acne, often covering whole portions of the face.

So what’s the big deal, you ask? Well, Adulescens inferno wouldn’t be so bad if it stayed on the skin like normal acne . . . but it doesn’t. In almost 87 percent of documented cases, the virus abandons the derma and works its way deeper into the body. Able to move at sickening speeds, the retrovirus attacks muscles in the cheeks, nose, throat, and mouth. Basically, that means victims have acne growing inside their tongues. And since these zits are protected from creams, medications, and pimple-popping fingers, they can swell to enormous sizes. Left unchecked, Adulescens inferno can cause serious facial deformities, trouble swallowing, and eventual suffocation.

Although the virus seemingly disappeared during the 2000s, it reared its ugly whitehead in early 2013, claiming the life of a high school sophomore in Odessa, Texas. Unfortunately, while the disease is curable with immediate treatment, most victims aren’t aware they’ve contracted Adulescens inferno until it’s moved into the terminal stage. After all, its first and most obvious symptom is a sudden and rather deceptive onset of scaly red skin and slime-filled pustules. However, if the flare-up coincides with the appearance abnormal protuberances inside the mouth, nose, or along the tongue, chances are good things are about to get gross. At the very least, nobody is going to ask you out to prom.

7Pulmonary Lenticellular Ichthyosis

Human lungs are composed of a mass of spongy tissue that’s designed to be extremely flexible. The inner tissue of your lungs is made of a sheet of wrinkled cells that folds in on itself hundreds of times. If you could stretch it out flat, it would cover an area about the size of a three-piece suit. It’s designed that way to maximize the surface area that air can hit, allowing you to pull in more oxygen with every breath.

Sometimes, though, that flexible tissue doesn’t behave the way it should. In the years since the first case was observed in 1983, we’ve been seeing a rapidly increasing number of cases of pulmonary lenticellular ichthyosis—commonly referred to as “lung bark.” It happens when the outer layer of tissue on the lungs scabs over and hardens, forming a shell similar to the bark of the tree. And “similar” is an understatement—the hardened lung tissue actually has a mineral profile that’s 86 percent similar to the bark of the common beech tree.

The problem is, this disease is nearly impossible to diagnose without an autopsy. It presents no external symptoms, and the only time we ever see it is in cases where an autopsy is ordered for a different reason, such as for the victim of a homicide. But the numbers are striking—53 percent of autopsies ordered in the past decade have revealed pulmonary lenticellular ichthyosis. In one study, the lung bark was so strong it couldn’t even be cracked with a hammer. And in what you might call an ironic twist, cigarette smokers appear to be immune to whatever causes lung bark, leading some to believe that it might be caused by a bacteria that’s highly susceptible to carbon monoxide—such as the flesh-eating genus of Psilii nicagei.

6Sudden Onset Dental Collapse

In 1936, Joyce Merrick was eating lunch at a diner when she bit down on something hard. It turned out to be a tooth. Touching her mouth to find which one was missing, she discovered that all of her teeth felt loose and wobbly. Another one came away in her hand when she touched it. In the space of about five minutes, all but two of her remaining teeth had fallen out. Doctors determined that the nerves inside her teeth had all died, and blood had ceased flowing to the surrounding tissues, leaving them weak and unstable.

What made this case so strange, apart from the rapid onset, is that in the months leading up to it, Merrick had had a series of dreams apparently predicting the event. In some her teeth had felt wobbly, and fallen out in rapid succession, while in others they were incredibly brittle, and crumbled in her mouth.

Since the Merrick case, multiple other victims of sudden onset dental collapse have been studied. All of them reported similar dreams, as well as occasional prickling sensations in their gums. Although not widely understood, the prevailing theory is that, the neurological system being so closely connected, nerve death in the mouth directly impacts the prefrontal cortex (the area of the brain responsible for dreaming). Certainly there is a link between dreams of clumps of hair falling out and late-life thinning hair or baldness in women, also believed to have a neurological cause. (In men, baldness is not considered pathological.)

In the early 1980s, victims of sudden onset dental collapse lobbied the US government to fund a public awareness campaign, encouraging those experiencing “teeth falling out” dreams and prickling gums to see their doctor immediately, but as the condition is so rare, it was felt the costs could not be justified.

5 Credula Cerebrum Morbo

Credulua cerebrum morbo is a degenerative brain disease caused by the mendax virus, and it’s seen a curious spike in number of cases recently. It’s a highly infectious disease, affecting all age groups, genders, and ethnic groups without discrimination. Perhaps the most unfortunate thing about this disease is that the early onset symptoms are often considered so minor that the affected person often assumes nothing is wrong until the disease is too advanced to treat. These symptoms include irritated eyes, blurred vision, back and neck pain, headaches, and fatigue. However, if left unchecked, the virus attacks the neurons in the brain, and over an extended period of time, it can lead to decreased concentration; forgetfulness; failure to recognize familiar people, places, or things; and even occasional explosive incontinence. Eventually, the virus destroys so much of the brain that even organ function begins to shut down, resulting in death and possibly even more incontinence.

Unfortunately, there is no known cure. Treatment consists more of prolonging the inevitable, rather than eradicating the disease. It’s a fact that every person diagnosed with credula cerebrum morbo will die at some point in their lives. It’s an unpredictable killer and has been known to run its course in mere months or stretch out and make victims suffer sometimes as long as another 70 years. If you are experiencing any of the early warning signs, you’d do well to get yourself checked out.

4Dissociative Unipolar Hypersensitivity

Have you ever tried to tickle yourself? It doesn’t really work, does it? That is because our somatosensory system is designed to treat external stimuli—those coming from other people and things—very differently from any physical stimulation we give our own selves.

This is a fundamentally necessary setup. Think about it: If your body treated your own touch the same way it treats other people’s, you’d be unable to accurately distinguish between the two. More than that, you’d suffer from a debilitating state of constant sensory overstimulation; simply having hair would feel like something’s always pressing against your scalp, your tongue would trigger a gag reflex within your own mouth, and your very skin would give you a sensation of being wrapped in plastic.

So what happens when this intricate mechanism fails? As it turns out, results range from mild and almost comical to completely crippling. The umbrella name for this range of symptoms is Dissociative Unipolar Hypersensitivity. People with a weak form of it may, for example, pinch themselves and instead feel like they’ve been tickled, or accidentally cut a finger but experience a “burning sensation.” Those on the more serious end of the spectrum may find themselves recoiling in pain while scratching their forehead and generally being entirely incapable of telling physical sensations apart. Current estimates suggest that as many as 27 percent of the population exhibit at least some symptoms. This puts the total number of afflicted people worldwide at over 1.9 billion. This means that you have a one-in-four chance of being affected, without even having noticed it.

One surefire method to test for D.U.H. is pretty straightforward. Take a pen or permanent marker and use its sharp tip to gently scratch the back of your neck. Now do the same with the tip of your index finger. Ideally, the two sensations should be very easy to tell apart. If you have trouble doing so, you may at least be predisposed to the disorder. Do note that you should never self-diagnose, so for further examination, please consult your physician and ask them about D.U.H.

3Pineal Parasitic Infection

Back in the ‘70s, French doctors working on the Caribbean island of Redonda began to notice a series of unusual symptoms among their patients. The afflicted reported strong feelings of fatigue, increased appetite, and emotional and mental instability. Although they didn’t know it, the doctors were the first to detect the presence of the 20th century’s fastest-growing parasite, Cognomen sciencii, or the razor-backed squareworm.

Originally affecting sheep and some species of petrel, the squareworm seems to have made the jump to humans at some point in the late ‘50s, but remained undetected for years, primarily because infection remained relatively rare until the early 2000s. Infection is characterized by unexplained tiredness, mood swings, rectal discharge, and frequent urination—sometimes as often as several times a day.

Perhaps the most unusual feature of the squareworm is its ability to influence host behavior through the production of endorphins and other emotion-regulating peptides, which the worm naturally excretes. This allows the parasite to alter its environment to suit itself—for example, by releasing endorphins after the host has consumed a meal high in salt or fat, the squareworm encourages the consumption of similar meals. Similarly, if agitated by excess movement, the squareworm can release the stress-related chemical Neuropeptide Y, encouraging the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle.

Although previously rare, squareworm infection rates have grown exponentially during the 2000s and continue to do so to this day. Many osteopaths now link this growth rate to changing dietary patterns, particularly the rise of popular gluten-free diets. As well as being delicious, frequent gluten consumption is fatal to squareworms, which are severely intolerant of it. So, if you want to avoid infection, make sure you get plenty of gluten!

2Sudden Onset Gluten Intolerance

Could gluten kill you? Seven out of seven doctors now believe it could and will, at any point, without warning. The protein composite has been linked to everything from heart attacks to ocular scaling, sudden cranial discharge, and pancreatic verrucas. Now, a holistic team of scientists, houngans, and dietitians working out of Saskatchewan’s Institute for Logorrheic Aphasia say that these seemingly unrelated effects may in fact constitute part of a larger syndrome—sudden onset gluten intolerance.

Scienticians say SOGI is becoming more and more common and may already be at epidemic levels—and the symptoms may actually be worsening in response to increased consumption. New maladies believed to be linked to SOGI include ambivalence, spasms, brittle bones, urethral bleeding, ingrowing teeth, wandering cartilage, uncontrolled gall bladder replication, miasma, macrobiotic psychosis, spontaneous combustion of the nervous system, breezes, gum necrosis, tropical hypothermia, verbal hallucinations, and skin disorders.

In a statement earlier this year, the Senior UN Commissioner on Disease, Helen Hunt, advised that gluten be banned completely from human consumption. This measure remains controversial, but has already been implemented in Guam, Micronesia, and New York. For those living elsewhere, the risk of SOGI can be reduced through frequent exercise, Obeah, and a carefully monitored fluid intake.

1Hypochondriasis

Hypochondriasis (more commonly known as “hypochondria”) is easily the best known condition on this list, and it’s also the most prevalent. Sufferers may experience no physical malady, but they nonetheless go through something even worse: the misconception that they do indeed have an actual serious illness. Hypochondriacs often find themselves perusing collections of obscure disorders and even conducting bizarre self-diagnosis tests that violate common sense.

Originally, doctors believed that hypochondria was a response to natural low self-confidence or a consequence of observing actual disease. But with the rise of the Internet and the huge flood of information it brings, social scientists say many people have just developed an unhealthy obsession with random morbid stuff. Plus, it’s simply fun to imagine that you might have an unexpected and crazy fate ahead of you . . . rather than just acknowledging that you’re going to die due to your sedentary lifestyle of sitting in front of a computer all the time.

Most recently, economists and taxidermists have concluded that hypochondria is but a single facet of a larger disorder: extreme gullibility. Sufferers of this disorder (“suckers”) tend to believe anything they hear—or read. Anything that is linked to an external resource appears legitimate to the gullible, even when the resource is completely unreliable, contains no supporting facts, or even consists of total gibberish.

Though no instant cure exists for either hypochondria or credulity, few doctors suggest abandoning all hope. Many sufferers have managed to turn their lives around by treating themselves with regular doses of skepticism (currently not regulated by the FDA). If something seems unlikely, or even just really interesting, read up further on it from every source you can find. You may discover it isn’t true at all. Or you’ll find it is true, and you’ll learn a ton more about it, which is still a good use of your time. In fact, it’s the second best way you can use your time, right after insulating your home against rabid space bats.

Vastest Riffles would like to thank his parents for creating him and Kier Harris and Nolan Moore for helping out with this list.

Determining the origin of a deadly disease is an important part of understanding and treating the disease properly. While the origins of many diseases remain matters for debate, the following deadly outbreaks have compelling evidence of an animal origin. These eventually led to a spillover event: when a disease jumps from one species to another. Unfortunately, in these cases, that second species was us.

10AIDS
Cameroonian Chimpanzees

The history of AIDS is extensive, and there have been many efforts to trace its origin, perhaps most famously with the first “patient zero,” Gaetan Dugas. The initial scapegoat, Dugas was a Canadian flight attendant who came to be known as Patient Zero through a misunderstanding, as the zero was not a zero, but rather the letter “O,” for “out of California.” While Dugas took the blame for HIV and AIDS in the 1980s, the virus—in humans, at least—predates Dugas by several decades.

The truth is that AIDS came to humans through a spillover event involving a chimpanzee in southern Cameroon way back in the early 1900s. The theory goes that it was likely a hunter who ventured into the jungle, encountered and killed a chimpanzee carrying the virus, and then went on to butcher the animal. In the course of processing the animal, the hunter either cut himself or had an open wound through which the disease was transmitted. As a zoonosis (animal disease that can be passed to humans), SIV becomes HIV once it passes from its initial host to the human host.

9Ebola
African Fruit Bats

The crab-eating macaque was once thought to have been responsible for the most recent outbreak of Ebola in Africa, but it turns out that these primates are not wholly responsible and are instead “accidental hosts.” The origin has now been tied to African fruit bats, and researchers believe that they now not only know the initial human host, but also the specific location where he was first infected.

It was initially unknown how Emile Ouamouno, the two-year-old first infected in the most recent outbreak, first contracted Ebola, but it now appears that the toddler came into contact with the infected bats while playing in a large, hollow tree in the Meliandou village. The tree—which has since been burned to a stump—was inhabited by thousands of the bats, and Ouamouno was very likely infected by coming into contact with either the bats or the significant amount of fecal matter left behind in the hollow of the tree.

8African Sleeping Sickness
Tsetse Flies

The have been a number of widespread outbreaks of Human African Trypanosomiasis—commonly known as African sleeping sickness—and the incidence of the disease has steadily climbed since environmental concerns led to banning the use of DDT as an insecticide in the 1970s. The tsetse fly is the culprit, as it carries the parasite responsible for the fever, rash, extreme fatigue, and swelling—among other things—that African sleeping sickness causes. The WHO estimates that the disease infects 30,000 people on an annual basis, and the aforementioned symptoms eventually lead to coma and death.

African sleeping sickness is believed to have played an important evolutionary role, and attempts at eradication are very unlikely to be successful. Control of the disease, however, is a possibility, and there have been a number of recent developments that seem promising in preventing infection, including a “repellent collar” technology that is designed to combat the tsetse fly and the infection it causes. Given the widespread nature of the tsetse fly (they are present in over 37 countries), this is an extremely important development that could lead to the prevention of further outbreaks.

7SARS
Chinese Horseshoe Bats

It was initially thought that civet cats were the reservoir hosts of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), but a 2013 study revealed that the true hosts were Chinese horseshoe bats. While there were also some theories that an intermediate host was needed (such as the animals found in the Chinese markets), the study found that the bats can transfer SARS directly to humans without an intermediate host.

The realization that civet cats were not responsible came after researchers noted that the cats were not infected with SARS until they had been in contact with the Chinese wet markets, and that there must be another host responsible for the transmission. The pandemic these bats caused in the early part of this century (2002 and 2003) has been referred to as “one of the most significant public health events in recent history,” and it caused a great deal of widespread international concern.

6Hendra
Australian Flying Foxes

The first reported outbreak of Hendra occurred in 1994 in Australia, and while the outbreak was deadly to humans, it had a greater impact on the horse population. Vic Rail, a successful and well-known Australian horse trainer, along with 14 of his horses, fell ill with Hendra in 1994 and died within a matter of days. Since the initial outbreak of Hendra, only seven cases have been reported among humans (four of which were fatal), but it remains quite a problematic zoonosis for the horse population.

It has been determined that Australia’s flying fox population is the reason for the spread of Hendra. The flying fox, which belongs to Megachiroptera, a suborder of megabats, is considered the largest bat in the world and has a wingspan that can be as large as 1.5 meters (5 ft). No direct link between the flying foxes and humans exists, as all of the human cases of Hendra have occurred due to contact with an infected horse, which makes it fairly likely that a horse is necessary to serve as the amplifier for Hendra infection.

5Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Ixodid Ticks

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) causes symptoms similar to that of Ebola and Marburg, and it carries a fatality rate of up to 40 percent. The first reported outbreak occurred in 1944, affecting both soldiers and farmers on the Crimean Peninsula. While infection can occur as a result of contact with infected livestock, CCHF is a tick-borne illness with no existing vaccinations available.

While there have been a number of outbreaks of CCHF, the most recent occurred in Uganda in 2013, when a farmer from the village of Baroma in the Atece Parish had to be hospitalized for symptoms consistent with CCHF. He was followed by several others who died with similar symptoms. It was unclear whether the farmers acquired CCHF through contact with an ixodid tick or through infected livestock. While there is currently no vaccine available for CCHF, there is hope that a vaccine in the pre-clinical stage will offer sufferers some respite while offering others a method of prevention.

4Machupo Virus
Bolivian Field Mice

The Machupo virus, or Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, is considered a sister virus to Ebola, with the first reported cases striking Bolivia in 1959. Subsequent outbreaks occurred in northern Bolivia in 1971 and 1994, and the Machupo virus carries a mortality rate of up to 30 percent. Incidentally, the widespread use of DDT in Bolivia (used to deal with the malaria problem) may have been an indirect cause for some of the Machupo outbreaks, as it played a role in killing the feline population, therefore allowing the mouse population to flourish. It is the mice, of course, that serve as the reservoir for the virus and then transfer it to humans.

The Machupo virus is carried by the mice and virus particles can be found in the urine, feces, and saliva of the field mice found in Bolivia. It has been theorized that the virus spreads most efficiently when dried mouse urine is swept into the air and inhaled by those nearby.

3Marburg
African Fruit Bats

Marburg features symptoms that are remarkably similar to those experienced by sufferers of Ebola, including a severe and potentially fatal hemorrhagic fever. While there are those who point to monkeys as the cause, it is actually fruit bats that are believed to be the natural host of the deadly disease. Humans are likely infected when handling fruit bats in food preparation, as bats are considered something of a delicacy in many of the areas commonly affected by Marburg.

Studies are still ongoing to determine if other animals serve as reservoir hosts, but it is certainly not monkeys, who are sometimes thought to transfer the disease. Monkeys, and all primates for that matter, must contend with a high mortality rate if infected with Marburg. Given the widespread populations of African fruit bats, the risk of a significant Marburg outbreak is quite high.

2Lassa Fever
Multimammate Rat

Lassa fever, like many of the other deadly viruses on this list, is endemic to West Africa and was first discovered in 1969 after two missionary nurses died after coming into contact with the virus in Nigeria. Similar to Machupo, the virus is carried by rodents, but this time by the multimammate rat. These rodents transfer the virus to humans in much the same way as the Bolivian field mouse, most often through dried urine that becomes aerosolized when swept. This is particularly problematic given the breeding frequency of these rats and their tendency to build nests in homes in which common food items are stored.

Lassa fever is so common in West Africa that its outbreaks occur on an annual basis, infecting up to 500,000 people and killing as many as 20,000 yearly. The most recent outbreak in Nigeria occurred just weeks after the country had announced that it had contained Ebola, overwhelming medical professionals already stretched thin by the ravages of the virus.

1MERS
Egyptian Tomb Bat

Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome, or MERS, is a relatively recent illness that has thus far been mostly localized to countries in and around the Arabian Peninsula. While there has yet to be a widespread outbreak of MERS, there are fears that the deadly disease could spread quickly and in a similar fashion to the SARS outbreak. Like SARS, it’s been found that the animal spillover ultimately occurred via bats—the Egyptian tomb bat, to be precise.

While it has been determined that the tomb bat is responsible for the origin of MERS, researchers do not believe that the virus is spread via direct contact with the bats, but rather through an intermediate host. The researchers have tested a number of different animals, and there is some belief that any number of animals—including camels, sheep, goats, and cats—could serve as the intermediate host through which humans acquire MERS.

J. Francis Wolfe is a freelance writer whose work can be seen daily at Dodgers Today. When he’s not writing, he is most likely waiting for “just one more wave,” or quietly reading under a shady tree.

For many years, certain diseases have seemed utterly insurmountable, defying the best efforts of medical science. These diseases, often considered death sentences, have plagued humanity with a sense of hopelessness. But recent advancements in medical research have begun challenging these long-held beliefs, offering glimpses of hope where there once was none. This list explores some of the most remarkable strides made toward curing these seemingly incurable diseases, showcasing the ingenuity and perseverance of scientists and medical professionals.

These advancements are not merely incremental improvements; they represent groundbreaking achievements that could fundamentally alter the course of treatment for these conditions. From innovative gene therapies to revolutionary stem cell treatments, the landscape of medical science is rapidly changing. Each item on this list highlights a unique breakthrough, providing a detailed look at how researchers are tackling these formidable challenges head-on. The facts presented here paint a picture of a future where diseases once thought to be incurable might finally be defeated.

Related: 10 Unsettling Facts about the World’s Deadliest Diseases

10 Historic Remission of DIPG in a Young Patient

In an extraordinary medical breakthrough, a 13-year-old with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) has achieved complete remission after seven years of experimental treatment. DIPG is notoriously aggressive, often leading to a grim prognosis, with many children succumbing within a year. DIPG is a brain tumor that occurs in an area of the brainstem (the lowest, stem-like part of the brain) called the pons, which controls many of the body’s most vital functions, such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

This child’s unexpected recovery has provided a beacon of hope for families affected by this devastating diagnosis. While doctors are still unraveling the factors behind the success, this case emphasizes the critical need for continued innovation in pediatric cancer treatments. This remarkable remission could guide future therapeutic approaches, offering renewed hope in the fight against DIPG and other challenging cancers.^[1]

9 Promising Progress in HIV Cure Research Using Stem Cell Transplants

Several individuals have shown sustained remission from HIV after receiving stem cell transplants from donors with a rare genetic mutation that confers resistance to HIV. These cases, while not yet definitively declared cures, represent significant progress in HIV research and offer hope for future therapeutic approaches.

Stem cell transplantation is a complex and risky procedure, not currently a viable option for most people living with HIV. However, the success observed in these cases demonstrates the potential for this approach to eradicate HIV from the body. Ongoing research aims to refine this method and make it safer and more accessible, potentially leading to a functional cure for HIV.

These advancements highlight the importance of continued investment in HIV research and the possibility of achieving a scalable cure in the future. While stem cell transplantation may not be the ultimate solution, it serves as a crucial stepping stone toward developing more widely applicable and effective treatments for HIV.^[2]

8 Promising Gene-Editing Research in Diabetes Treatment

Chinese scientists have demonstrated promising results in treating diabetes in mice using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology. By targeting the FTO gene associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, researchers were able to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in mice.

This study marks a significant step forward in understanding the genetic basis of diabetes and exploring potential therapeutic avenues. While the results are encouraging, it’s important to note that this research was conducted on mice, and further studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of this approach in humans.

The potential of gene editing to revolutionize diabetes treatment is substantial. This approach could offer a more permanent solution than traditional medication-based management if successful in humans. However, extensive research and clinical trials are necessary before gene editing can become a viable treatment option for diabetes patients.^[3]

7 Breakthrough in Brain Cancer Treatment

Australian Professor Richard Scolyer, diagnosed with an incurable brain tumor almost a year ago, remains cancer-free thanks to his pioneering treatment. Scolyer, a University of Sydney professor, utilized his groundbreaking melanoma research to treat his own glioblastoma. This made him the world’s first brain cancer patient to undergo pre-surgery combination immunotherapy, showing no signs of recurrence nearly 12 months after his diagnosis.

Scolyer’s journey began after a seizure in Poland revealed his grade 4 brain tumor. Using his expertise, he applied the principles of melanoma immunotherapy, which activates the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. The approach has saved thousands of lives from melanoma and now holds promise for brain cancer. Despite the high risk of adverse reactions, Scolyer has experienced positive results, and recent MRI scans confirm the absence of cancer.

His success has far-reaching implications for future brain cancer treatments. By undertaking this experimental therapy, Scolyer has advanced the understanding of brain cancer and opened new avenues for research. His story highlights the potential of personalized medicine and immunotherapy in combating some of the most challenging cancers, offering hope to patients worldwide.^[4]

6 Gene Therapy Brings Hope to Sickle Cell Patients

In a promising development, gene therapy is providing new hope for individuals with sickle cell anemia, a painful and debilitating blood disorder. Tobi Okunseinde from New Jersey is among the first to benefit from this breakthrough. The treatment works by altering his own stem cells to produce normal red blood cells, significantly reducing the frequency and severity of pain crises. Since undergoing the therapy, Tobi has experienced remarkable improvements, regaining the ability to enjoy daily activities without constant pain.

This advancement is seen as a potential game-changer for sickle cell patients who have had limited treatment options. By addressing the underlying genetic cause of the disease, gene therapy offers the possibility of a long-term solution rather than just symptom management. As more patients undergo this treatment, there is growing optimism that it could soon become a standard option, bringing relief and a better quality of life to many affected by sickle cell anemia.^[5]

5 Breakthrough in Hepatitis C Treatment Offers New Hope

Recent advancements in medical science have made it possible to cure hepatitis C, a chronic liver infection that affects millions worldwide. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications have revolutionized treatment, boasting cure rates exceeding 95%. These medications work by targeting the virus directly, preventing it from multiplying and allowing the liver to heal. This development marks a significant improvement over previous treatments, which were less effective and had more severe side effects.

Patients diagnosed with hepatitis C can now look forward to a future free of the virus, significantly reducing their risk of liver complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. The success of these treatments highlights the importance of early diagnosis and access to healthcare. As more people receive these life-saving medications, the hope is that hepatitis C could one day be eradicated entirely.^[6]

4 Innovative Eye Drops Restore Sight in Teenager

In a groundbreaking development, new eye drops have successfully restored sight in a teenager suffering from DEB-related vision loss. DEB (dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa) is also known as “butterfly skin disease. These first-of-their-kind eye drops, developed through advanced gene therapy, deliver a specially designed virus to the eye, which corrects the genetic mutation responsible for the vision loss. This treatment marks a significant milestone in ophthalmology, offering hope to many with similar conditions.

The teenager’s remarkable recovery has been closely monitored by medical professionals, who report significant improvements in vision quality and eye health. This success story highlights the potential of gene therapy to address genetic disorders that were once considered untreatable. The eye drops have provided a non-invasive alternative to traditional surgical methods, making treatment more accessible and less risky.

As research continues, experts are optimistic that this innovation could pave the way for new treatments for various forms of genetic blindness. The promising results from this case have sparked further studies and clinical trials, aiming to refine the therapy and expand its availability. The future of treating genetic eye disorders looks brighter than ever, thanks to this pioneering approach.^[7]

3 Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Children with Genetic Deafness

In a remarkable breakthrough, gene therapy has successfully restored hearing in children with genetic deafness. Researchers conducted a study where they introduced a modified gene into the inner ear cells of the affected children. This gene therapy approach targeted the genetic mutations responsible for their hearing loss, effectively reversing the condition and allowing the children to hear for the first time. The study marks a significant advancement in treating hereditary hearing impairments, offering new hope to many families.

The therapy’s success was evident in the children’s improved auditory responses and speech development. For many, this was the first time they could experience sound, profoundly impacting their quality of life. The positive outcomes from this study demonstrate the potential of gene therapy to address various forms of genetic deafness, paving the way for future treatments that could eliminate the need for hearing aids or cochlear implants.

Ongoing research and clinical trials are expected to refine this gene therapy technique, making it safer and more effective. The future looks promising for those with genetic hearing loss as this innovative approach continues to evolve and reach more patients worldwide.^[8]

2 Breakthrough Treatment for Baldness on the Horizon

A groundbreaking new treatment for baldness has shown remarkable promise, bringing new hope to individuals affected by hair loss. This innovative approach utilizes stem cells to regenerate hair follicles, and the results are astounding. Clinical trials have demonstrated significant hair regrowth, with some participants experiencing near-total restoration of their hair.

This development has the potential to transform the way baldness is treated, shifting away from temporary fixes like hair transplants and medications. By harnessing the body’s natural ability to produce hair, this treatment addresses the root cause of hair loss. As research advances, this game-changing solution could become widely available, offering a permanent answer for those struggling with baldness.^[9]

1 Stem Cell Therapy Helps Paralyzed Man Walk Again

A man who was paralyzed from a severe spinal cord injury has regained the ability to walk after undergoing stem cell therapy. This treatment involved injecting stem cells into the damaged spinal cord, promoting nerve regeneration and restoring motor function. The patient’s progress has been closely monitored, showing significant improvement in mobility and independence.

This success story underscores the potential of stem cell therapy in treating spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions. While further research is necessary, these findings offer hope for developing effective treatments for paralysis. The ongoing studies aim to refine this approach, making it more accessible and beneficial for a broader range of patients.^[10]

Dinosaurs continue to fascinate us. Every now and then, we discover a fossil that reveals some new facts about their lives—for example, their diets, injuries, or habitats. However, some fossils also reveal evidence of diseases that affected dinosaurs. Yes, these animals had their own illnesses, too, just like every other living creature out there.

The diseases ravaged the dinosaur population and even killed a good number of them. Many of these illnesses are still around today, and some even affect humans, which sort of makes the whole thing more interesting. We also included some early reptiles that lived around the time of the dinosaurs.

10 Dandruff

A 125-million-year-old dinosaur is the oldest creature known to have suffered from dandruff. That dinosaur is the microraptor, a small carnivore that was the size of a modern crow. Scientists have also found evidence of dandruff in two more dinosaurs, the beipiaosaurus and the sinornithosaurus. Both were about two times larger than the microraptor.

The researchers discovered evidence of dandruff by chance while studying how dinosaurs shed their feathers. They found that some parts of the feathers of the fossils contained corneocytes. This was a big deal because corneocytes are also formed when dandruff appears on human skin.

The researchers did not call it dandruff because corneocytes and dandruff were believed to only form on skin and not feathers. The researchers also found that dinosaurs shed their feathers in small bits—just like modern birds—and not in larger pieces as they would have expected for their size.^[1]

9 Cancer

Dinosaurs had their fair share of cancer, too. This was revealed by a study led by Bruce Rothschild of Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown, Ohio. Rothschild and his team made the discovery after scanning 10,000 dinosaur fossils stored in several museums across North America with an X-ray machine.

The researchers found that 29 of the 97 tested hadrosaur bones contained cancerous tumors. To be clear, not all tumors are cancerous. These were considered cancerous because they closely resembled tumors found in human cancer patients.

Researchers do not know why the hadrosaur often ended up with cancer. However, they think it was because of the conifers eaten by these animals. The conifer is a plant with needlelike leaves that is known to contain cancer-causing chemicals.^[2]

8 Malaria

Malaria has been killing living organisms since the time of the dinosaurs. In fact, some researchers like George Poinar Jr., an entomologist (a scientist who studies insects) from Oregon State University, even think it killed dinosaurs.

Interestingly, this version of malaria was transmitted by flying insects that were probably not mosquitoes. Researchers know a now-extinct midge, a small flying insect that lives in riverine areas, did transmit this earlier version of malaria 140 million years ago. However, they also suspect that sand and horseflies also transmitted malaria.

These flying insects would have bitten the dinosaurs, which they probably considered a major source of blood, the way the female Anopheles mosquito considers humans its primary source of blood today. The flies infected the dinosaurs with an extinct version of malaria called Paleohaemoproteus burmacis.

While the malaria definitely made the dinosaurs sick, Poinar does not think it could have made the dinosaurs go extinct.^[3]

7 Cataracts

There is no hardcore evidence that dinosaurs had cataracts. However, the theory was suggested by L.R. Croft in his book, The Last Dinosaurs. In fact, he says the widespread formation of cataracts made dinosaurs go extinct.

Croft claimed that these creatures started suffering from cataracts when excessive heat and dangerous ultraviolet radiation from the Sun caused global warming. The dangerous radiation also caused dinosaurs to develop cataracts, which later led to blindness. So many dinosaurs went blind that they soon went extinct after becoming unable to fend for themselves.

Croft argued that mammals and reptiles did not go extinct because they cleverly avoided the Sun and switched to hunting in the dark. However, the dinosaurs continued roaming during the day.

However, a lot of people do not think that dinosaurs went extinct after developing cataracts. Natural selection would have made the dinosaurs develop some form of protection against the dangerous radiation. Besides, the whole theory seems weird.

But that is what you get when you ask an ophthalmologist like L.R. Croft why dinosaurs went extinct.^[4]

6 Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that affects humans today. It sets in when the slippery cartilage at the ends of bones wears out, causing the harsh bone joints to come into direct contact with each other. This causes friction between the ends of the bones, which soon wear out. Pain sets in at this point.

Researchers have discovered that the Caudipteryx, a small flying dinosaur that was just as big as the modern peacock, suffered from this condition, too. In fact, the dinosaur, which lived 130 million years ago, is the oldest creature known to have suffered from osteoarthritis.

Researchers made the discovery while studying the ankle bones of several birds and flying dinosaurs held in Chinese museums. They discovered that 3 of the 10 fossils of the Caudipteryx had the condition. However, researchers do not know why the dinosaur was susceptible to the condition. Interestingly, many small modern birds also suffer from osteoarthritis.^[5]

5 Osteomyelitis

In 1997, researchers exhumed the remains of a Lufengosaurus huenei that lived 170–200 million years ago. They observed that the ribs of the dinosaur were somewhat abnormal. Several parts were missing, indicating that it had suffered some injuries before its death. However, the researchers did not really deliberate on the cause of the injuries and just kept it in storage.

Two decades later, researchers restudied the fossil and determined that the rib injuries were caused when the dinosaur was attacked by a larger predator that was trying to eat it. The team could not confirm the identity of the predator. However, it would have been huge considering that the Lufengosaurus huenei was also enormous. It reached 6 meters (20 ft) in length and weighed almost two tons.

The Lufengosaurus huenei got away from the predator but with a terrible rib injury that soon got infected with some deadly bacteria. The bacteria caused pus to form inside the rib bones, resulting in a deadly bone disease called osteomyelitis.

In humans, osteomyelitis is caused by Staphylococcus aureus. However, the researchers did not confirm whether the bacteria also caused the bone disease in dinosaurs. Nevertheless, the disease could have caused severe fever, fatigue, and nausea in the dinosaur, subsequently leading to its death. Some of the bacteria could have escaped into the brain, making the animal’s demise swifter.^[6]

Curiously, the dinosaur could have still had the condition even if it was not bitten. The bacteria could enter its body some other way and travel into its rib bones through its blood.

4 Septic Arthritis

The hadrosaur, a herbivorous duck-billed dinosaur, seemed to be one unfortunate creature that suffered from a myriad of diseases. Besides cancer, it also suffered from septic arthritis, a severe condition that could have caused pain in its joints.

Unlike the osteoarthritis we mentioned earlier, septic arthritis is caused when germs travel through the blood to reach the joints. Septic arthritis can also be directly introduced into the joints during injury. In either case, it causes severe pain in the joints, sometimes immobilizing them.

Researchers discovered evidence of septic arthritis in dinosaurs while analyzing the elbow fossil of a hadrosaur. They found three unusual growths at the joints which were caused by septic arthritis. Scientists could not confirm how the hadrosaur ended up with the disease. However, they believe that it was so painful that the animal had difficulty walking.^[7]

3 Intestinal Worms

Dinosaurs suffered from several parasitic worms, including tapeworms and trematodes. Researchers do not know how long these tapeworms became, but they think they could have reached 30 meters (100 ft), which is actually small when talking about dinosaurs. Tapeworms reach over 24 meters (80 ft) in humans.

It is almost impossible to find evidence of parasitic worms in dinosaur bone and skin fossils because the worms probably died and decayed after the demise of the dinosaur. However, we can determine the kinds of worms that lived in dinosaurs by analyzing the coprolites (poop fossils) of the dinosaurs. Coprolites sometimes contain worm eggs or cyst samples.

This was how researchers George Poinar and Arthur Boucot discovered the first evidence of dinosaur worms in 2006. The poop belonged to an unidentified carnivorous dinosaur that lived somewhere in modern Belgium. The researchers found evidence of trematode and nematode worms along with a protozoa suspected to be Entamoeba.^[8]

2 Tooth Decay

The Labidosaurus hamatus (aka the lipped lizard) is one extinct creature we have probably never heard of. It was a 1-meter-long (3 ft) reptile that lived around the time the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. However, it is popular for other reasons. It is the earliest creature known to have suffered from toothache and decay.

We discovered this a few years ago when Robert Reisz of the University of Toronto Mississauga led a team of researchers to scan the lower jaw of a fossilized Labidosaurus hamatus. They discovered that the creature had suffered from severe tooth decay that caused it to lose a good number of teeth.

Researchers do not know how the jaw got infected even though they think it had to do with the animal’s diet. The Labidosaurus hamatus was an omnivore. However, its main diet consisted of plants. Herbivores and omnivores with a predominantly vegetarian diet often have teeth specialized for chewing.

This was a major disadvantage for the Labidosaurus hamatus. Excessive chewing wore down its enamel, leaving the nerves inside the teeth exposed. The nerves got infected with bacteria, causing the damaged tooth to develop an abscess. This caused a painful toothache and, consequently, tooth decay.^[9]

1 Tuberculosis And Pneumonia

Pneumonia and tuberculosis predate even dinosaurs. The earliest evidence of the lung diseases was found in the Proneusticosasiacus, a marine reptile that lived over 245 million years ago.

Researchers made the discovery after performing an X-ray analysis of a Proneusticosasiacus fossil. They discovered that some of its ribs were abnormal. Injury, cancer, fungi, and scurvy were initially suspected until the team narrowed it down to pneumonia and Pott’s disease, a lethal form of tuberculosis that often affects the bones.

The researchers discovered that the reptile had suffered from the infection for months or even years until it died. However, other scientists say that the fossil really belonged to a Cymatosaurus, a marine reptile that is closely related to the Proneusticosasiacus.^[10]

The Proneusticosasiacus and Cymatosaurus are closely related to another reptile called the nothosaur. This creature lived and bred on land but hunted in water, just like the seals of today. Interestingly, modern seals are the likeliest marine mammals to end up with tuberculosis.

Mice are great research tools. Scientists can inject them, infect them, dissect them, and learn all sorts of useful things relevant to human health.

A lot of diseases, though, just afflict humans. To study these diseases in mice, scientists have to get creative. Some of these creative maneuvers include hormone treatment, tissue transplants, or gene transfer. Afterward, the mice become just a little more human.

Sometimes, as with complex psychological disorders, the challenge is ridiculously hard. So scientists have to settle for just mimicking a few symptoms.

10 Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is an STD caused by a bacterium, Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In nature, it only infects humans.

In the lab, scientists have used syringes to inject N. gonorrhoeae into the vaginas of many mice. But N. gonorrhoeae doesn’t really like living in mice. So the infection doesn’t usually take.

After a lot of troubleshooting, scientists discovered that there is a brief window during the estrus cycle when conditions in the mouse vagina are just right. During that window, N. gonorrhoeae can thrive.

Normally, that window passes quickly. By treating mice with a female sex hormone, 17β-estradiol, scientists can prolong this window. After this estrogen boost, the mouse vagina can host N. gonorrhoeae for many days.

With these mice, scientists have been able to test new medicines. They’ve also been able to study the curious fact that one infection often does not confer long-term immunity. Like humans, mice can often be infected again after recovering from their first bout.

In the real world, people rarely have gonorrhea in isolation. As much as 70 percent of the time, a gonorrhea infection is accompanied by a chlamydia infection. To study this problem, scientists have also made double-STD mice. To build these models, they inject two kinds of bacteria into the mice’s vaginas: C. muridarum and then N. gonorrhoeae.

9 Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative disease that affects the brain and can cause severe memory loss. In the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, many clumps of protein called plaques appear. These plaques are formed out of pieces of a protein called APP.

There are many ways to build Alzheimer’s mice. Several rely on a mutant form of APP, which is found in two Swedish families. In these families, Alzheimer’s arrives unusually early, while the patients are still in their fifties.

Many Alzheimer’s mice show memory loss. To measure this, scientists have used several tests. One is called the Morris water maze. In this test, mice must remember the location of a hidden platform set inside a pool of water.

Another test is called the novel object recognition test. A mouse is presented with two objects: one that it has seen before and one that it hasn’t. Normal mice spend more time exploring the new object. Alzheimer’s mice can’t seem to tell the difference.

8 Measles

Measles is caused by a virus. In most cases, it leads to fever and spots on the skin. In rare cases, it can also cause brain damage or death.

In the natural world, measles only infects humans. The virus enters human cells at one of two receptors: CD46 or CD150.

To render mice susceptible to the measles, scientists have introduced the genes for these receptors into mice. After infection, some of these measles-mice develop severe reactions.

In a 2006 paper, for example, scientists transformed mice with the human CD150 receptor. Then they infected these mice with the measles in two different ways: by injecting the virus into their nostrils or directly into their brains. After infection, many of the mice faded rapidly. They lost control of their movements, developed seizures, and died.

The severity of the case depended on the age of the mice. Newborn mice were always goners, but four-week-old mice always survived. In two-week-old and three-week-old mice, the death rate was somewhere in the middle.

7 HIV

To date, HIV has killed about 39 million people. Millions more are infected every year.

To infect a human cell, HIV binds to receptors on the cell surface. In chimpanzees, our close cousins, these receptors are similar. So HIV can infect chimps, too.

Mice, though, are much more distantly related. In the 90 million years since mice and primates split ways, these proteins have also changed. As a result, HIV can’t infect mice.

One way to fix this problem is to transfer human genes into mice. However, at least three human genes are needed to help HIV thrive in a mouse.

A more popular approach is to build mice with human immune systems. This involves some human-to-mouse cell injections and often some surgery. Such mice are called “humanized.”

One variety of humanized mouse is called BLT, a reference to the bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich. Unlike the sandwich, though, the BLT mouse contains a mixture of human cells taken from three sources: bone marrow, liver, and thymus.

To build a BLT mouse, scientists begin with a mouse with a faulty immune system. Then they take bits of liver and thymus sourced from human fetuses and transplant them under the mouse’s kidney. They also inject some stem cells sourced from human bone marrow.

After that, the mouse is transformed. It’s chock-full of human immune cells and 100 percent susceptible to HIV. Humanized mice can be infected with HIV via the vagina or anus or with a needle straight into their veins.

6 Acne

Acne is a human problem . Our closest cousins, the chimpanzees, don’t get pimples. Neither do mice.

Acne is triggered by a destructive back-and-forth between the human skin and the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. Most of the time, P. acnes is harmless. However, when oxygen levels dip inside a pore, P. acnes attacks the skin. Then the immune system fights back. The result is a lot of pus.

To study acne, scientists have injected P. acnes into mice. The mouse ear is one popular injection site. Other scientists have used the mouse’s back.

But P. acnes doesn’t like living in mice. It much prefers humans.

To make mice more friendly to P. acnes, one group of scientists decided to introduce human cells into mice. They poked holes into Teflon cylinders, placed human cells inside them, and transplanted the cylinders into the bellies of mice. A week later, they injected P. acnes.

Inside the mice, the human cells survived. So did P. acnes. In response, the mice’s bodies mounted an immune response. It was somewhat similar to what happens in a human face before a pimple is formed.

5 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) feel driven to repeatedly perform the same action. Some wash their hands hundreds of times a day. Others complete elaborate counting rituals every time they leave a room.

Mice don’t wash their hands. But they do engage in an equivalent behavior called grooming in which they rub themselves with their paws. Excessive grooming in mice is often used as a model for human OCD.

In many cases of OCD, a region of the brain called the orbital frontal cortex is abnormally active. To recreate OCD in mice, one group of scientists decided to stimulate the orbital frontal cortex with light pulses.

One pulse wasn’t enough. However, after many pulses spread out over several days, the mice began to groom themselves more frequently. Some of these mice also responded to a chemical treatment for OCD that has been shown to work in humans.

Scientists have also made mice with OCD by mutating certain genes. In some of these mutants, grooming can become intense. Hoxb8-mutants groom so vigorously that they remove their own hair. Sapap3-mutants repeatedly rub their faces until they inflict wounds.

4 Alcoholism

Alcoholics are physically dependent on alcohol. They experience intense cravings and drink heavily.

In humans, alcoholism sometimes runs in families. In mice, a love of alcohol also seems to be genetic. Some mouse strains drink little alcohol when given the opportunity. Other strains drink more.

Mice metabolize alcohol quickly, five times faster than humans do. So, short of forcing the alcohol down their throats, it can be hard to make mice really drunk.

One way to overcome this problem is to breed mice that absolutely love alcohol and drink tons of it voluntarily. To do this, scientists select the mice from each generation that drink the most. After several rounds of breeding, the result is high-alcohol-preferring (HAP) mice.

Some of these HAP mice do get drunk. After drinking for many hours, their blood alcohol can rise to over three times the legal driving limit. The mice’s movements become uncoordinated, and they struggle to walk a balance beam.

As in humans, all of this drinking is voluntary. HAP mice have the option to stick with water. But they are always drawn to alcohol.

3 Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease affects the nervous system. Sufferers gradually lose the ability to control their movements and think clearly.

The disease is genetic, traceable to the huntingtin gene located on human chromosome 4. Normal versions of the huntingtin gene contain multiple repeats of CAG, a three-letter DNA sequence. In disease-causing versions of the gene, these repeats get out of control. In mutant huntingtin, more than 35 CAGs are present.

In one experiment, scientists introduced a mutant form of human huntingtin into mice. It contained 72 CAG repeats.

One mouse carrying this 72-repeat gene suffered motor problems. It couldn’t complete a beam-crossing test. When dangled by its tail and then returned to the ground, it struggled to find its footing. It also tended to walk in circles.

When scientists performed an autopsy, they found that the mouse’s brain had begun to degenerate, much like the brains of Huntington’s patients.

Scientists have made many other strains of the Huntington mouse, too. Some just contain fragments of the mutant gene or express the gene only in specific brain cells.

2 Autism

People with autism have a difficult time interacting with other people. Some also engage in repetitive behaviors like flapping their hands.

Many different genes contribute to a risk for autism. For example, Cntnap2 plays a role in early brain development.

In one experiment, scientists knocked out the Cntnap2 gene in mice. In these mutants, the brain developed differently. Some brain cells didn’t travel where they were supposed to go. Levels of one kind of brain cell called the interneuron were also reduced.

Mice without the Cntnap2 gene also behaved differently. Many of their behaviors resembled symptoms of human autism. For example, the mutants were less communicative as pups. When separated from their mothers, they gave fewer distress calls.

As adults, mice without the Cntnap2 gene were also less social. When normal mice are presented with an empty tube and a tube containing a mouse, they usually prefer to investigate the tube containing the mouse. But mice without the Cntnap2 gene showed no such preference.

Like many humans with autism, mice without the Cntnap2 gene also engaged in repetitive behaviors. They repeatedly dug at the ground. They also groomed themselves to the point of risking injury.

These mice also responded to the medication risperidone much as humans with autism do. After the mice received the medication, their repetitive behaviors were controlled. But the social problems remained.

1 Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental illness. Its most famous symptoms are delusions and hallucinations. Less dramatic symptoms include apathy and learning problems.

In people with schizophrenia, the MD neuron, a kind of brain cell, is less active. To recreate this mental difference in mice, scientists blocked the neurons chemically. After this blockage, mice had trouble adjusting to new set of rules for finding food. This difficulty may resemble the sorts of learning problems that people with schizophrenia have.

Schizophrenia also runs in families. Many different genes seem to play a role. In a Scottish family, a mutation in a gene called DISC1 seems to increase risk. To study this connection, scientists introduced a mutant form of DISC1 into mice.

In mice with the mutant DISC1, the brain developed differently. One set of structures called the lateral ventricles became larger than normal. This was particularly true on the left side. These kinds of brain differences are also seen in people with schizophrenia.

Mice with the mutant gene showed other symptoms, too. Sometimes, they were more hyperactive. When given an open field to run in, they scurried around slightly more manically than normal mice did. At other times, the mice were more apathetic. When dropped into a container of water, they put up less of a struggle than normal mice did.

These behavioral differences may have something to do schizophrenia, but scientists aren’t sure.

Whether mice will ever be engineered to display some of schizophrenia’s more famous symptoms—like hearing voices or believing that they are some famous historical figure—is unclear. You may need a human brain for that. But even if a schizophrenic mouse did come to believe that it was Elvis, it wouldn’t be able to tell scientists about it.

Rachel Rodman writes about transplanting weird things into lab mice: gazelle testicles, rat embryos, snow leopard cells, and so on. You can read more at her website, rachelrodman.com.

Among the many medical anomalies that humans may face, there exist diseases so strange that they defy logic and challenge our understanding of human biology. These rare conditions, often sounding like something out of a science fiction novel, are real and profoundly impact the lives of those afflicted. From the bizarre to the downright terrifying, these diseases puzzle medical professionals and evoke curiosity in the rest of us.

While incredibly rare, these conditions offer a glimpse into the complex and sometimes unfathomable nature of our bodies. Exploring these diseases reveals the incredible diversity of human pathology. Each condition presents unique symptoms and challenges, often requiring equally unique approaches to treatment and care. By delving into the world of these unusual diseases, we learn about the fragility and resilience of the human body and gain a deeper appreciation for medical advancements that strive to alleviate the suffering of those affected.

Related: Top 10 Horrible Diseases that Came From Animals

10 Maple Syrup Urine Disease

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is as peculiar as its name suggests. This rare metabolic disorder is characterized by the body’s inability to break down certain amino acids, leading to a distinctive sweet-smelling urine reminiscent of maple syrup. The condition primarily affects infants and, if left untreated, can result in severe neurological damage or even death. Early diagnosis and dietary management are crucial for those affected by this disorder.

The sweet odor is caused by the accumulation of branched-chain amino acids and their toxic by-products in the blood and urine. Symptoms often appear within the first few days of life and include poor feeding, vomiting, lethargy, and abnormal movements. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning both parents must carry a copy of the defective gene to pass it on to their child.

Treatment for MSUD involves a strict diet low in the offending amino acids, supplemented with a special formula. Regular monitoring of blood levels is essential to prevent metabolic crises. Despite the challenges, with proper management, individuals with MSUD can lead relatively normal lives.

Advancements in genetic research and newborn screening have improved the prognosis for those born with MSUD. Early detection allows for prompt intervention, significantly reducing the risk of complications.^[1]

9 Alien Hand Syndrome

Alien hand syndrome (AHS) is a rare neurological disorder where a person’s hand moves involuntarily, almost as if it has its own will. This strange condition often results from brain surgery, strokes, or neurodegenerative diseases that affect the brain’s control over voluntary movement. People with AHS may find their hand performing actions they did not intend, such as grabbing objects or touching their face.

The primary cause of alien hand syndrome is damage to the brain, particularly the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres. This can happen during surgeries intended to treat epilepsy or due to other forms of brain trauma. Patients often describe their hand as behaving independently, which can be both distressing and disruptive to daily life.

Managing AHS involves behavioral techniques to control the hand’s movements, such as keeping the hand occupied with an object. While there is no cure, ongoing research aims to better understand this condition and improve treatment options.^[2]

8 Fish Odor Syndrome

Fish odor syndrome (FOS), medically known as trimethylaminuria (TMAU), is a metabolic disorder that causes a person’s sweat, breath, and urine to emit a strong, fish-like odor. This rare condition occurs due to the body’s inability to break down trimethylamine, a compound produced in the gut. The excess trimethylamine is then released in bodily fluids, resulting in the characteristic odor.

The primary cause of fish odor syndrome is a genetic mutation affecting the enzyme responsible for processing trimethylamine. This mutation can be inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning both parents must carry the defective gene to pass it on to their child. Symptoms can vary in intensity, with some individuals experiencing only mild odors while others may have more pronounced and persistent smells.

Living with FOS can be socially and emotionally challenging. The noticeable odor often leads to embarrassment, anxiety, and social isolation. Treatment typically involves dietary changes to reduce the intake of trimethylamine precursors found in certain foods like fish, eggs, and legumes. Some patients also benefit from supplements and medications that help reduce the production of trimethylamine in the gut. Despite its rarity, FOS significantly impacts those affected. Ongoing research aims to find more effective treatments and to better understand.^[3]

7 Stone Man Syndrome

Stone man syndrome, scientifically known as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), is a rare and debilitating genetic disorder where soft tissues progressively turn into bone. This condition causes muscles, tendons, and ligaments to ossify, essentially creating a second skeleton that severely restricts movement and function. The process usually begins in childhood and advances throughout the person’s life.

FOP is caused by a mutation in the ACVR1 gene, which plays a crucial role in bone formation and growth. Even minor injuries can trigger episodes of rapid ossification, leading to painful and irreversible joints and muscle stiffening. As the disease progresses, individuals lose mobility, making everyday activities increasingly difficult and leading to severe disability.

There is currently no cure for stone man syndrome, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing flare-ups. Doctors often advise avoiding activities that could cause injuries and using medications to reduce inflammation and pain. Research is ongoing to find more effective treatments and understand the mechanisms behind this rare condition.

Living with FOP requires significant adjustments and support. The progressive nature of the disease means that those affected must continuously adapt to new limitations. Awareness and understanding of stone man syndrome are crucial for providing adequate care and improving the quality of life for those affected.^[4]

6 Laughing Death (Kuru)

Laughing death, known scientifically as kuru, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that was once prevalent among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea. This bizarre disease is characterized by uncontrollable laughter, tremors, and loss of coordination, eventually leading to death. Kuru is caused by infectious proteins called prions, which induce abnormal folding of normal brain proteins.

The transmission of kuru was linked to the practice of ritualistic cannibalism among the Fore tribe, where deceased relatives were consumed as part of their funeral rites. Ingesting infected brain tissue facilitated the spread of prions, leading to outbreaks of the disease. Symptoms typically began with headaches and joint pain, progressing to severe neurological impairment and emotional instability.

Efforts to eliminate kuru focused on ending the practice of cannibalism. Public health campaigns successfully educated the Fore people, leading to the cessation of these rituals and a dramatic decline in new cases. However, the historical impact of kuru remains a poignant reminder of the intersection between cultural practices and infectious diseases.^[5]

5 Water Allergy (Aquagenic Urticaria)

Water allergy, or aquagenic urticaria, is an exceptionally rare condition where contact with water causes hives and severe itching. This allergy can be triggered by water at any temperature, including sweat and tears, making it a highly debilitating condition. The exact cause of aquagenic urticaria is not well understood, but it is believed to involve a hypersensitivity reaction to an unknown substance in the water.

Symptoms typically appear within minutes of water exposure. Affected individuals experience red, itchy welts that can vary in severity. Even routine activities like bathing, swimming, or getting caught in the rain can trigger a painful reaction. The condition is not limited to any specific type of water, meaning both tap water and natural bodies of water can cause symptoms.

Living with aquagenic urticaria requires significant lifestyle adjustments. Protective measures, such as applying barrier creams or taking antihistamines, can help manage the symptoms. However, there is no cure, and the condition often persists throughout life. Due to its rarity, research is limited, and those affected often feel isolated and misunderstood.^[6]

4 Pica

Pica is a perplexing eating disorder characterized by the compulsive ingestion of non-food items. Individuals with pica may consume substances such as dirt, clay, chalk, paper, or even metal. This condition can occur in both children and adults and is often associated with other mental health disorders, nutritional deficiencies, or developmental issues.

The exact cause of pica remains unclear, but it is believed to stem from a combination of psychological, cultural, and nutritional factors. For example, some people with iron or zinc deficiencies may crave and consume non-nutritive substances. Pica can also be linked to stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and pregnancy, where unusual cravings are not uncommon.

Consuming non-food items can lead to serious health complications, including intestinal blockages, poisoning, and dental problems. Medical evaluation is crucial for individuals with pica to identify any underlying deficiencies or psychological conditions. Treatment typically involves addressing these root causes through nutritional supplements, behavioral therapy, and counseling.^[7]

3 Tree Man Syndrome (Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis)

Tree man syndrome, scientifically known as Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), is an extremely rare genetic disorder characterized by the growth of bark-like warts and lesions on the skin. These growths, caused by an abnormal susceptibility to human papillomavirus (HPV), can appear anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the hands and feet. The condition often leads to severe disfigurement and significant physical discomfort.

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning both parents must carry the defective gene to pass it on to their offspring. The disease typically manifests in childhood or early adulthood, with the warts growing progressively over time. These lesions can become so extensive that they resemble tree bark, hence the name tree man syndrome.

The growths associated with EV are not only cosmetically distressing but can also increase the risk of skin cancer. Treatment options are limited and primarily focus on surgical removal of the lesions, although the warts often regrow. Other treatments, such as retinoids and immunotherapy, are being explored but have shown varying degrees of success.

Living with tree man syndrome requires ongoing medical care and support. The condition’s rarity means that research is limited, but increased awareness can help drive funding and interest in finding more effective treatments.^[8]

2 Werewolf Syndrome (Hypertrichosis)

Werewolf syndrome, medically known as hypertrichosis, is a rare condition characterized by excessive hair growth all over the body, including areas where hair typically does not grow. This abnormal hairiness can give individuals a werewolf-like appearance, hence the name. Hypertrichosis can be congenital, present at birth, or acquired later in life due to certain medications or medical conditions.

The underlying cause of congenital hypertrichosis is often genetic mutations that lead to the overproduction of hair. In some cases, it is linked to other genetic disorders. Acquired hypertrichosis, on the other hand, can be triggered by drugs such as minoxidil, certain cancers, or metabolic disorders. The excessive hair growth can range from fine, lanugo-like hair to thick, dark hair resembling a pelt.

Managing hypertrichosis primarily involves cosmetic procedures such as shaving, waxing, or laser hair removal to reduce hair growth. However, these treatments are often temporary and must be repeated regularly. For many, the psychological impact of hypertrichosis is significant, leading to social anxiety and self-esteem issues. Despite its rarity, werewolf syndrome has captivated public imagination and media attention.^[9]

1 Exploding Head Syndrome

Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is a sleep disorder that causes sufferers to experience sudden, loud noises or explosive sensations in their heads just as they are falling asleep or waking up. These sounds, often described as a bomb exploding, a gunshot, or a loud clash of cymbals, are not real but rather a figment of the person’s mind. Although EHS is harmless, it can be extremely frightening and disruptive to sleep.

The exact cause of exploding head syndrome is not well understood, but it is thought to be related to minor seizures in the brain, sudden shifts in the middle ear components, or issues with the brain’s auditory processing during the transition between wakefulness and sleep. Stress, anxiety, and fatigue are known to exacerbate the condition.

Symptoms of EHS include the sensation of a loud noise or an explosive sound, sometimes accompanied by a flash of light or muscle jerks. The episodes are usually painless but can cause significant distress and anxiety, leading to difficulties in falling back asleep. Many people experience EHS only occasionally, but it can occur frequently for some.

Management of exploding head syndrome focuses on reducing stress and improving sleep hygiene. Techniques such as relaxation exercises, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and avoiding caffeine and heavy meals before bed can help mitigate the episodes. While EHS is not dangerous, understanding and managing it can greatly improve the quality of life for those affected.^[10]

Throughout history, humans have been plagued by enigmatic illnesses that continue to defy scientific understanding. Despite the impressive strides made in medical science, some diseases still perplex researchers. These ailments, where the root causes remain a mystery, pose unique challenges for patients and healthcare providers alike.

The baffling nature of these conditions lies not just in their unknown origins but also in their unpredictable symptoms and varied impact on individuals. For some, the onset is gradual and subtle, while others are struck suddenly and without warning. This lack of clarity leaves patients grasping for answers, often facing a lifetime of uncertainty and frustration as they seek relief.

Whether autoimmune, neurological, or entirely unique in their manifestations, these diseases underscore the complexities of the human body and the limitations of our current medical knowledge. Here are 10 mysterious human diseases that remain largely unexplained.

Related: Top 10 Surprising Ways Diseases Have Been Cured

10 The Unnerving Mystery of Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s Palsy is a sudden and alarming condition characterized by temporary weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles, typically affecting only one side of the face. The swift onset often leaves patients in shock, with facial drooping and an inability to close the eye being hallmark symptoms. While some suspect viral infections, particularly herpes simplex, as the culprit, the exact cause remains unclear.

The condition was first described in detail by Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon, in the 19th century. He observed the rapid progression and debilitating effects on facial movement. Still, despite extensive research since then, the root cause remains elusive. Most patients experience spontaneous recovery within a few weeks to months, but a small percentage endure lingering weakness or permanent damage.

The unpredictability of Bell’s Palsy adds to the anxiety experienced by patients. Some report mild facial weakness, while others suffer from complete paralysis, making everyday activities like eating, drinking, and speaking difficult. Furthermore, the inability to close the eye can lead to dryness and potential corneal damage. Treatment typically involves corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and antiviral medications, but the effectiveness of these interventions varies.

While most people regain full function, the uncertainty surrounding the condition leaves many wondering if and when it might strike again, adding to the unnerving nature of this mysterious affliction.^[1]

9 The Debilitating Enigma of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a debilitating disorder marked by extreme fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest and is not directly caused by any other underlying medical condition. Those suffering from CFS often struggle with muscle pain, headaches, and cognitive difficulties like memory loss and impaired concentration. Despite significant research efforts, the root cause of CFS remains unknown, making it one of the most perplexing disorders in modern medicine.

Many theories have emerged over the years regarding potential causes, including viral infections, immune system dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, and psychological stress. Some researchers suspect that certain viral infections like Epstein-Barr may trigger the syndrome, while others believe that an abnormal immune response may be the primary factor. However, no single cause has been definitively proven, leaving patients without clear answers or a specific treatment.

The uncertainty surrounding CFS makes it difficult for patients to manage their symptoms and daily lives. The lack of a definitive diagnostic test often results in delayed or misdiagnosis, causing frustration and emotional distress. Moreover, some healthcare providers dismiss the condition due to its unclear origins, leaving patients feeling misunderstood and unsupported.

Treatment for CFS typically focuses on symptom relief, including lifestyle changes, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and medications to manage pain and improve sleep. However, finding an effective treatment remains a challenge due to the variability of symptoms and the lack of a clear underlying cause, making CFS one of the most enigmatic and frustrating medical mysteries.^[2]

8 The Agonizing Puzzle of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and localized tenderness. Patients often experience sleep disturbances, memory issues, and mood swings. Although it’s believed to involve abnormal pain processing in the brain, the specific cause remains elusive, making it one of the most puzzling conditions in modern healthcare.

Potential triggers include genetic predisposition, infections, and physical or emotional trauma. Some researchers believe that fibromyalgia may be linked to an overactive nervous system, where pain signals are amplified and prolonged. Others hypothesize that hormonal imbalances or autoimmune factors could be involved. However, no definitive cause has been identified, leading to uncertainty in diagnosis and treatment.

Treatment focuses on symptom management through a combination of medication, exercise, and stress reduction. Patients often require a multidisciplinary approach involving physical therapy, psychological counseling, and medication to improve sleep and reduce pain. Despite these efforts, many individuals continue to struggle with persistent symptoms as the medical community continues to search for the underlying cause of this agonizing mystery.^[3]

7 Lupus: The Shape-Shifting Disease

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue. The condition primarily affects the skin, joints, kidneys, and brain, leading to a wide range of symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, rashes, and organ inflammation. While genetics and environmental factors are believed to play a role, the exact cause remains unknown, making it a particularly challenging condition to diagnose and treat.

There are several types of lupus, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) being the most common and severe form. Symptoms can range from mild joint pain to life-threatening organ failure. The unpredictable nature of lupus means that patients can experience periods of remission followed by sudden flare-ups, adding to the anxiety and frustration of living with the disease.

Treatment typically includes immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory medications to manage flare-ups and minimize organ damage. However, the complexity and variability of lupus make finding effective treatments difficult. Research into its underlying causes continues in hopes of developing more targeted and effective therapies for this shape-shifting disease.^[4]

6 Misfiring Nerves from Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers, known as myelin, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. The symptoms vary widely, ranging from vision problems and muscle weakness to fatigue and cognitive impairment. Although genetics, viral infections, and environmental factors are suspected contributors, the exact trigger remains a mystery.

In MS, the immune system’s attack on myelin results in scar tissue (sclerosis), which interferes with nerve signal transmission. This damage leads to a broad spectrum of neurological symptoms that can worsen over time or occur sporadically in unpredictable flare-ups. The disease typically presents in two primary forms: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), where symptoms come and go, and primary progressive MS (PPMS), characterized by a gradual decline in function.

Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and slowing disease progression through disease-modifying therapies. These include immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, and physical therapy. While these treatments can improve quality of life, they cannot cure the disease or fully prevent its progression, leaving patients and researchers searching for a definitive cause and a more effective solution to this misfiring neurological condition.^[5]

5 Relentless Gut and Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s Disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It can affect any part of the digestive system, from the mouth to the anus, but most commonly impacts the small intestine. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue. Despite extensive research, the exact cause of Crohn’s remains unclear, making it a challenging condition for both patients and healthcare providers.

While the precise cause is unknown, researchers believe a combination of genetics, immune system dysfunction, and environmental factors play a role. Smoking, diet, and stress are considered potential triggers that may exacerbate the condition. The disease can also vary greatly in severity, with some patients experiencing mild discomfort while others endure severe complications like intestinal strictures and fistulas.

Diagnosing Crohn’s Disease requires a series of tests, including blood work, endoscopy, and imaging studies, due to the overlap in symptoms with other gastrointestinal disorders. Once diagnosed, treatment focuses on reducing inflammation and managing symptoms through anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, and biologic therapies. Surgery is sometimes necessary for patients with severe complications or those who don’t respond to medication.

The unpredictable nature of Crohn’s makes it a relentless and frustrating disorder for many patients, significantly impacting their quality of life. The medical community continues to search for a definitive cause and more effective treatments for this mysterious gut disorder.^[6]

4 Enigmatic Lung Scarring in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease characterized by progressive scarring (fibrosis) of the lung tissue, leading to severe breathing difficulties. The primary symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, and fatigue. Unfortunately, the disease often has a poor prognosis, with most patients surviving only three to five years after diagnosis.

The scarring of the lung tissue in IPF makes it difficult for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream, resulting in chronic breathlessness and reduced oxygen levels. While the exact cause is unknown, researchers believe genetic factors and environmental exposures, such as smoking or inhaling dust, may contribute to its development. However, the disease can occur in individuals without any known risk factors, further complicating our understanding.

Treatment options are limited and aim to slow disease progression rather than cure it. Antifibrotic medications, supplemental oxygen, and pulmonary rehabilitation can provide some relief, but many patients eventually require a lung transplant. Despite advances in understanding the disease, IPF remains one of the most challenging respiratory disorders due to its rapid progression and unknown cause.^[7]

3 Interstitial Cystitis’s Bladder Pain Enigma

Interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as bladder pain syndrome (BPS), is a chronic condition characterized by persistent bladder pressure, pelvic pain, and frequent urination. Its severity varies widely, with some individuals experiencing mild discomfort while others endure debilitating pain that significantly impacts their quality of life. Despite extensive research, the exact cause remains unknown, leaving patients and doctors searching for answers.

The symptoms of IC often mimic those of urinary tract infections but without the presence of bacteria. This leads to frequent misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. Potential causes include defects in the bladder lining, autoimmune reactions, nerve abnormalities, and genetic predisposition. However, none of these theories have been conclusively proven, making IC one of the most mysterious disorders affecting the urinary system.

Diagnosing IC involves ruling out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, such as infections, bladder cancer, or endometriosis. Once diagnosed, treatment focuses on symptom management, ranging from lifestyle changes and dietary modifications to bladder instillations and nerve stimulation. Oral medications, such as antihistamines and antidepressants, may also help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.

The unpredictable and often progressive nature of IC adds to the frustration faced by patients. As research continues to find a definitive cause, the medical community strives to develop better diagnostic tools and treatment options for this enigmatic bladder condition.^[8]

2 Kawasaki Disease: A Mysterious Childhood Illness

Kawasaki disease primarily affects children under the age of five and involves inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body. The condition is marked by a high fever lasting for more than five days, accompanied by symptoms like a rash, swollen hands and feet, and redness in the eyes, mouth, and tongue. Despite its severe implications, particularly for the heart, the exact cause remains unknown.

An infectious agent is suspected to be the trigger due to seasonal outbreaks and geographic clustering of cases. However, no specific pathogen has been identified. Genetic factors may also play a role, as children of Asian descent, particularly those of Japanese or Korean heritage, have a higher risk of developing Kawasaki disease.

Early treatment with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin is crucial, as it significantly reduces the risk of coronary artery aneurysms, a potentially life-threatening complication. Long-term management often involves regular cardiac monitoring to ensure no further damage occurs. While most children recover fully with early treatment, finding the definitive cause remains a top priority in unraveling this mysterious childhood illness.^[9]

1 Primary Biliary Cholangitis Silently Destroys the Liver

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), previously known as primary biliary cirrhosis, is a chronic liver disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the small bile ducts within the liver. This gradual destruction leads to bile buildup, causing inflammation and progressive liver damage. Common symptoms include fatigue, itchy skin, and jaundice, though many patients remain asymptomatic in the early stages. Despite intensive research, the exact cause remains unknown.

Genetic predisposition is believed to play a role, as PBC is more common in individuals with a family history of autoimmune diseases. Environmental factors like infections or exposure to certain chemicals may act as triggers. Women are disproportionately affected, accounting for nearly 90% of cases, suggesting a hormonal influence. However, the specific factors leading to this immune system misfire are still undetermined.

Diagnosis typically involves blood tests for liver enzymes and antibodies, as well as imaging studies or a liver biopsy to assess disease progression. Treatment aims to slow disease progression and relieve symptoms, with medications like ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) improving bile flow. In advanced cases, liver transplantation may be necessary.

While early detection and treatment can significantly improve outcomes, the unpredictable nature of PBC makes it a silent and formidable liver destroyer. Continued research into its underlying causes and more effective therapies is crucial in combating this enigmatic disease.^[10]

The human body is truly marvelous. It can cope with ridiculous demands, heal itself, feed itself, and most importantly, protect itself from harm. However, our understanding of the true mysteries of human anatomy and how the body works is far from perfect. Many times, we’ve been confronted with new diseases that we simply didn’t even know existed. Some of these ailments may have been the basis of folklore and cultural beliefs. Others are, well, just plain weird for those not initiated in the ways of medicine. Here are 10 truly weird symptoms that may signal an underlying deadly disease.

10 Forgetting To Breathe

Yes, you read that right. People sometimes forget to breathe. When pressure begins to build on the brain for whatever reason—be it due to a large bloody stroke, an expanding tumor, or the accumulation of water within the brain matter (hydrocephalus)—the brain is eventually pressed against the skull. This often affects the breathing centers, located in the brain stem.

So yes, the age-old (and morbid) joke of someone forgetting to breathe actually comes true. It’s far from being a laughing matter in real life, however, as it often signifies a buildup of intracranial pressure that may eventually end in death.

9 ‘Dancing’

You know that feeling when you can’t sit still and the beat of the music just takes over your body? We’re not talking about that. In the medical field, music and dance inclinations aside, there exist several severely degenerative diseases that result in the patient having uncontrolled, jerky movements, otherwise noted by nonmedical individuals as a form of dancing.

Such movement are referred to as hemiballismus and result from certain portions of the brain losing their inhibitory control of movement. Though quite interesting at first glance, the symptom is quite debilitating and oftentimes requires an intensive amount of medications to keep the patient from moving or exhibiting jerking movements.

8 Hypersexuality

It’s joked that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, but it turns out that the human sex drive is written into deeper parts of the human brain. Hypersexuality and inappropriate sexual behavior (as well as desires to put things in one’s mouth and the loss of normal fear responses) are all part of a group of symptoms that describe Kluver-Bucy syndrome, a rare disease often seen in people who have sustained large amounts of damage to the portions of their brain responsible for keeping these emotions in check.

Unfortunately, no amount of psychotherapy or medication can truly correct this disease. Often, patients are left highly highly irritable and, well, aroused by pretty much anyone . . . and anything.

7 Complete Paralysis While Completely Awake

The thought of being completely paralyzed while totally aware is often the stuff of nightmares and cheesy indie movie plotlines. But however strange and horrifying as it may be, this can sometimes become a frightening reality for some patients, an affliction known as locked-in syndrome (LIS). Many patients who’ve sustained massive (just short of fatal) brain damage go into a state where they’re unable to move, communicate, or feel—but are often conscious and aware of all that is happening around them.

Chances of recovery are often slim, with most patients remaining in this state until they die. Several famous cases of LIS include Stephen Hawking, who is afflicted with ALS, Rom Houben, a highly publicized car crash survivor who was trapped in the state for over 23 years, and Jean Dominique Bauby, a French Philanthropist who later founded an organization dedicated to helping those with LIS.

6 Testicles Larger Than Your Body

Imagine having large testicles. Now imagine that they’re larger than your torso. Now imagine being unable to move due to the sheer bulk and size of your enlarged testicles. Such a condition called elephantiasis, which can also refer to enlargement of the feet or legs in addition to the genitals.

It’s usually the result of parasitic infection, particularly by filarial worms, which are small roundworms often found in the soil in African countries. These worms burrow into people’s legs and block off the conduits draining them, thus leading to an accumulation of water under the skin . . . including the scrotum.

Other times, testicular swelling may be due to other conditions that may cause pooling of fluid near the testicles, a symptom otherwise known as hydrocoele (or hematocoele if that fluid is blood). Thankfully, most of the time, this condition is highly curable when caught early. So yes, it would be advisable to check yourselves, gentlemen—every single chance you get.

5 ‘Burning Up’

Have you ever been so mad that you felt like you could erupt into a fiery inferno of hatred and spite? Medically speaking, the closest you can possibly get is malignant hyperthermia. This is a rare condition that occurs after undergoing surgery, specifically after undergoing general anesthesia. Body temperatures can get close to 41 degrees Celsius (105 °F), causing tremendous damage to tissues not used to such an elevated ambient temperature.

Malignant hyperthermia is often caused by an inherited defect in an individual’s normal temperature response. Unfortunately, most people who suffer from this are often unaware that they have the mutation until they’re sent to intensive care after surgery, thus giving a new meaning to being “hot” in bed.

4 Being Hurt By Sunlight

No, we’re not talking about Twilight or Edward Cullen. Instead, we’re looking at the medical condition that spurred the whole legend of vampires and associated ways to dispose of them, namely light and garlic. This condition is called porphyria, a general term used to describe the buildup of porphyrins in the body due to an inability to produce heme from the porphyrins. Some types are more severe than others.

So how exactly do people with porphyria behave? First, they are deathly afraid of light, since light triggers a reaction in their skin that causes severe pain. Secondly, they exhibit a ghostly pale complexion, mostly due to their aversion to sunlight. They’re also afraid of garlic because the odor aggravates most of their symptoms. On top of this, their urine takes on a purplish hue, almost as if it was blood. Does that all sound familiar? Thankfully, porphyria is exceptionally rare these days. Those afflicted with it are often confined to the pages of adolescent female fantasy literature.

3 Fear Of Water

We’ve all seen cats and dogs exhibit aversions to water. But can it ever happen to humans? Apart from fear of drowning (or the neglect of personal hygiene), the fear of water, specifically of swallowing, has often been seen in cases of rabies.

Sufferers don’t truly fear water. The rabies virus triggers a severe muscle spasm around the throat. Those who’ve succumbed to the encephalitic stage of rabies display a severe aversion to and difficulty with swallowing, making it appear as though they have a fear of water. Rabies is highly fatal disease if untreated, so if you’ve sustained a bite from a suspected rabid animal, go to your local hospital immediately.

2 Completely Ignoring A Body Part

People can be forgetful; they forget their car keys, their wives, and their kids. But what happens when you feel that a certain body part, or an entire side of your body, doesn’t exist? Don’t say it can’t happen. People who’ve suffered strokes and were lucky enough to survive often display this symptom.

For some, it’s as minor as not utilizing the affected body part in reflex movements. In more extreme cases, it actually leads to all-out denial that a left or right side even exists. Studies have shown that the condition goes beyond the affected body part simply being weak but rather is rooted in a portion of the brain going haywire.

1 Self-Mutilation

A lot of times, we take the act of self-harm to be a symptom with psychological roots. The individual may be troubled or is coping with numerous problems. However, individuals may go as far as to mutilate their own lips, tongue, and fingers when afflicted with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS).

LNS is a genetic disorder that involves problems with the body’s ability to recycle uric acid, a byproduct of normal cell recycling. The uric acid pools in undesirable areas of the body, such as the brain. This then causes many of the seemingly psychological symptoms that we see—the most obvious of which is gross mutilation of the body.

Dr. Keith Andrew Chan is an internist, video game enthusiast, and writer of many, many weird things. He is often spotted at coffee houses, leeching off their free wifi, and spending time running away from wild bears and sea critters. He writes for cebumd.com and has appeared in several national health publications.

With modern medicine, we often become overconfident, believing we can conquer any ailment. Recent outbreaks indicate that we are not as secure as we believe. Diseases once thought conquered are making a comeback.

Their spread is due to many factors: globalization, technology, and the anti-vaccine movement. These outbreaks are not just found in remote jungle corners. Deadly diseases are also popping up in developed countries—even the United States. These outbreaks indicate that no one is safe from disease.

10 Leptospirosis

In 2009, the Philippines were ravaged twice: once by tropical storm Ketsana and again by “rat fever.” Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread through contact with animal urine. The warm floodwaters of post-Ketsana Philippines made an ideal breeding ground.

Leptospirosis killed 157 people there. Symptoms include headaches, fever, kidney failure, and profuse bleeding from the lungs. The mortality rate is 5–10 percent, and things might be getting worse. A 2015 outbreak in Mumbai, India, had a mortality rate of 33 percent.

This is not just a disease of tropical floodwaters. Dogs in the United States are the latest victims. In 2015, there were canine leptospirosis outbreaks in both California and Colorado. In 2009, the disease devastated the sea lions on the Oregon coast. Raccoons are major carriers, and up to 90 percent of urban rats carry the bacteria.

How long before this spreads to the United States’ human population?

9 Syphilis

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—unless it’s venereal disease. A recent spike in Sin City syphilis infections reveals a new vulnerability to this ancient disease. It is a complex, multistage bacterial disease.

In its early stages, syphilis can easily be treated with penicillin. However, if left untreated, the later stages include a horrific set of symptoms: inability to control muscles, dementia, rashes, blindness, and death.

Researchers blame the rise of syphilis on changing sex behavior. Smartphone-based hookup apps are making anonymous sex easier and more frequent. Due to effective HIV medication, condoms are also being used less often.

Most of the reported cases are coming from gay men. Currently, Vegas has the highest rate of syphilis infection in the western United States. Only Washington, DC, surpasses it nationwide.

8 Measles

In 2000, the United States declared that measles had been “eliminated.” However, in 2014, a massive outbreak started in California’s Disneyland. Eighty-four individuals in 14 states were infected.

As of late 2016, there were 22 confirmed cases in Arizona alone. This doubles the annual rate of infections in the US. This is a grave concern because the disease can lead to encephalitis, blindness, and death.

The comeback is due to two factors: infections from abroad and the anti-vaccine movement. Measles infects 22 million worldwide each year. Epidemiologists traced the epicenter of the latest outbreak to Eloy Detention Center in Arizona. They believe that Patient Zero was from outside US borders.

Beginning in the 1960s, the US effectively eliminated measles with a comprehensive vaccination program. However, many are now refusing this precaution. When infected individuals come into contact with an unvaccinated population, the results can be disastrous.

7 Diphtheria

In 2015, Spain had its first case of diphtheria in 28 years. The victim was an eight-year-old boy from Catalonia. Despite Spain’s free and widely available vaccine program, the parents had decided not to inoculate their son.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, diphtheria ravaged the Iberian Peninsula. One particularly bad outbreak was known as the “year of strangulations.”

Caused by Cornynebacterium diphtheriea, diphtheria typically targets young children and adults over 60. It claims the life of 1 in 10 patients infected with the disease.

The bacteria contain a toxin which kills human tissue. It leaves dead membranes that coat the throat, making it hard to breathe and swallow. The toxin can also enter the bloodstream and attack internal organs.

6 Typhoid Fever

Typhoid fever is a deadly bacterial disease related to foodborne salmonella. There are 16–30 million cases a year, resulting in 600,000 deaths. The disease is a particular threat in developing counties with a high population density and inadequate sanitation.

Typhoid fever is usually contracted from eating or drinking contaminated water. It symptoms are high fever, abdominal pain, headaches, and nausea. It is particularly virulent among children and has a high infant mortality rate. The disease can be treated with better sanitation, safe drinking water, and improved hygiene.

Typhoid is on the rise, even in the United States. Oklahoma recently saw an outbreak just north of the state capital. The epidemic was traced back to a single family. It was believed that they contracted the disease outside the United States. Florida has also seen a rapid increase in typhoid.

5 Polio

The Americas, Europe, the western Pacific, and Southeast Asia have all been declared polio free by the World Health Organization. This gives the illusion that polio is a thing of the past. It is not.

As the World Health Organization was on the verge of declaring Africa polio free, two cases emerged in Nigeria. The remote northern Borno State is under the control of Boko Haram, the radical Islamic militants. Health workers have limited windows to vaccinate the populace, usually after Boko Haram abandons a location. Afghanistan and Pakistan have also seen outbreaks of this “wild” polio.

Ukraine also had a recent polio outbreak. What differentiates their crisis is that it was contracted from the weakened polio strains in the vaccine. Given that only half of Ukraine’s population is immunized, this could have grave results.

4 Bubonic Plague

The bubonic plague is horrific. Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, swollen lymph nodes, and nausea. It was responsible for the Black Death of the 13th century, which killed 60 percent of the European population. Another 19th-century epidemic killed an estimated 10 million.

One recent fatal case caused Chinese officials to quarantine the entire city of Yumen. Last year, an outbreak in Madagascar left 39 dead. Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico are also hotbeds for the disease. There is an average of seven cases per year in the United States. However, there were more than 15 cases in 2015.

Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes the disease, can be successfully treated by antibiotics. Early treatment reduces the mortality rate to 16 percent. However, if left untreated, the fatality rate can be as high as 93 percent. Antibiotic-resistant strains have been identified, causing great concern among epidemiologists.

3 Leprosy

Officially known as Hansen’s disease, leprosy can lead to disfigurement, blindness, and even death. Considered by many to be an ancient ailment, leprosy is alive and well. The United States has an average of 150 cases a year.

Most thought these were the result of exposure to the disease in remote corners of the globe, where leprosy lingers. However, recent studies have revealed that these are homegrown infections passed on by the most unlikely of sources: armadillos.

The high number of leprosy infections in southern states prompted epidemiologists to explore the possible link to the armored critters. Analysis revealed that infected armadillos and humans share a genetically similar strain. The unique strain was found in 25 human patients and 28 armadillos. Fortunately, the disease is treatable with antibiotics if caught early.

2 Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is ravaging the tropics. This mosquito-borne disease causes fever, joint pain, and possibly death. In late 2016, a 13-year-old girl in Karachi passed away from the disease. This makes her the fourth victim in Pakistan’s recent outbreak.

In 2015, there were 40 dengue fever deaths in Pakistan alone. Worldwide, the yearly death toll is near 20,000. The United States is not immune. In 2015, Hawaii saw the largest outbreak of the disease since it attained statehood, with 261 confirmed cases.

The dengue fever vaccine Dengvaxia recently hit the market after 20 years of development. Unfortunately, this vaccine might be as deadly as the disease. Dengue fever works by antibody-dependent enhancement. The antibodies developed from first exposure are not only useless, but they actually aid the virus the second time around.

People need to be careful as to how they administer the vaccine, or it could lead to more hospital visits. It is most effective when given to people who have already had the disease.

1 Cholera

Cholera is deadly diarrhea. Before 2010, Haiti had not experienced a rash of cholera in over 100 years. However, in 2010, infections sprang up along the Meille River. Over 400 UN peacekeepers were housed in this area. They were fresh from Nepal, which was in the midst of a cholera crisis. The base’s waste flowed into a part of the Meille.

The United Nation’s official apology came late for the 10,000 killed in the outbreak. The UN could have reduced the epidemic by 91 percent if they had treated the peacekeepers for cholera—at a cost of $1 per patient. The Haitian outbreak is still not under control.

But this disease is not limited to underdeveloped tropical backwaters. South Korea recently reported its first homegrown cholera infection in 15 years. During the 19th century, this disease ravaged the region. It killed 400,000—nearly half the population. South Korean officials do not believe the recent outbreak will lead to an epidemic. But no one can be certain.

+Further Reading

These diseases aren’t the only things making a come back! So are these lists from the archives:

10 Dreadful Symptoms Of Deadly Diseases
Top 10 Gruesome Disfiguring Diseases
Top 10 Odd Diseases With No Known Cause
10 Horrifying Diseases You Definitely Don’t Want To Catch

Abraham Rinquist is the Executive Director of the Winooski, Vermont, branch of the Helen Hartness Flanders Folklore Society. He is the coauthor of Codex Exotica and Song-Catcher: The Adventures of Blackwater Jukebox.