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15 Bizarre Medical Disorders Named After Pop Culture Figures

February 18, 2023

Ah, the tales of childhood: the fairytales, the stories, the legends. They capture our imaginations, spark our creativity, and inspire us to explore the world around us. But what happens when these stories come to life? When the characters we know and love become real illnesses and disorders? Well, medicine kind of records things like that happening. From Peter Pan Syndrome to Rapunzel Syndrome, from Alice in Wonderland Syndrome to Werewolf Syndrome, from Sleeping Beauty Syndrome to Mad Hatter Disease, it's a wild journey through the world of medical literature, and it's all here in this list.

We'll explore the strange and fascinating world of real-life medical conditions inspired by classic stories and characters. We'll look at the science behind each disorder, the symptoms, and the treatments. We'll even take a peek at the slightly more whimsical side of medicine, with Seinfeld Syncope and Truman Show Delusion.

So, join us on this journey through the strange and wonderful world of medical literature.

15

Illness, schmillness: the real mystery here is how common these disorders are.

CRACKED MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME (AND MUNCHAUSEN BY PROXY) Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen by proxy are disorders where people make up or cause symptoms of an illness. They're named after Baron Münchausen, who people told wild stories about (also, there's a good Robin Williams movie about them). — NCBI / Slash Film

14

My arm's got a mind of its own - literally.

CRACKED DR. STRANGELOVE SYNDROME Dr. Strangelove syndrome, AKA Alien hand syndrome, is a rare disorder where a person's limb acts as if it has a mind of its own. It's usually caused by brain surgery, tumors, aneurysms, diseases, or stroke. — NCBI / Film Forum

13

Rapunzel's locks had ... a hidden cost?

CRACKED RAPUNZEL SYNDROME Rapunzel Syndrome is a disorder caused by pulling and eating hair, leading to stomach bezoars and symptoms like vomiting and stomach pain. It was first reported in 1968 and named, obviously, after the fairy tale character with long hair. — NCBI / The Digital Fix

12

Seinfeld sending people to the hospital? Now that's a show stopper.

CRACKED SEINFELD SYNCOPE In 1997, a case of a man who fainted from laughter while watching Seinfeld - and no other show - was described, and this was dubbed Seinfeld syncope. They treated the patient with stenting. — The Guardian / IMDB

11

Reality meets fiction about reality meeting fiction.

CRACKED TRUMAN SHOW DELUSION Two brothers, Joel and lan Gold identified a mental illness called the Truman Show delusion, based on the 1998 movie. It's when people think their life is a reality show, being filmed for the world to see. Since (1 CAMIS чель — WebMD / BelCourt

10

Life's a real bloodsucker sometimes.

CRACKED CLINICAL VAMPIRISM Clinical vampirism is a rare disorder where people compulsively drink blood, have an obsession with death, and can become violent and hurt themselves. There's no cure. — PubMed / Den of Geek

9

Bone to pick with FOP.

CRACKED STONE MAN SYNDROME Stone man syndrome, AKA fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, is a rare disorder that effectively turns muscles and connective tissues into bone, locking joints and making movement hard. — NCBI / Fandom

8

Tree man syndrome: when the sun is not your friend.

CRACKED TREE MAN SYNDROME Tree man syndrome is a rare inherited condition that makes people very vulnerable to certain types of HPV. It causes flat, wart-like bumps in sun-exposed areas, which can spread and cause very serious problems. — ABC / Looper

7

Living death: not as glamorous as it sounds.

CRACKED WALKING CORPSE SYNDROME Walking corpse syndrome is a rare disorder where people think they're dead, dying, or don't exist, and it's usually linked to depression and other mental illnesses. People feel like they're rotting away or their body, organs, or soul are dead. — Healthline / Bloody Disgusting

6

Grinch Syndrome affects half a million Americans.

CRACKED GRINCH SYNDROME Half a million Americans, mostly women, have Grinch Syndrome, which causes dizziness, fatigue, and makes it hard to stand for long periods. It's named after the Dr. Seuss character because those with it have hearts two sizes too small. — NBC / Vehr

5

Fur real?

CRACKED WEREWOLF SYNDROME Hypertrichosis, AKA Werewolf syndrome, is a rare condition that causes too much hair growth on the face and body, in both sexes. It can start at birth or develop later. — Healthline / Fangoria

4

A sleepy, yet gender-biased disorder.

CRACKED SLEEPING BEAUTY SYNDROME This syndrome is rare and causes people to sleep a lot, making it hard to stay awake during the day. It usually affects men and people assigned male at birth, and symptoms start in early adolescence. — Cleveland Clinic / Fandom

3

Beware the Mad Hatter's warning: too much mercury can make you go bonkers.

CRACKED MAD HATTER DISEASE Mercury is a toxic metal that can make people sick, even in small amounts. Long-term exposure can cause Mad hatter disease, with headaches, changes in behavior, and weakness. People who work with mercury, kids, and fish-eaters are more at risk. 90 — Healthline / Desi Comments

2

Alice had a very distorted view.

CRACKED ALICE IN WONDERLAND SYNDROME Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is a rare brain disorder that makes people perceive their body or the world differently, as if things are bigger or smaller than they really are. It's common in kids and linked to other brain conditions. — Cleveland Clinic / WikiMedia

1

Never grow up, never grow old... and you'll have Peter Pan Syndrome.

CRACKED PETER PAN SYNDROME Except for Peter Pan, all kids grow up. But some adults struggle to accept the responsibilities of adulthood, which is called Peter Pan Syndrome. — Healthline / E Online

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