20 Diseases You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

You’re about to discover some of the rarest and most bizarre diseases in the world. These conditions may seem surreal, but they are real for those suffering from them.

Alien Hand Syndrome

A man with alien hand disease
Photo Credit: Canva

Characterized by one hand acting independently from the other, AHS is a rare neurological disorder that makes the affected hand feel like it has a mind of its own. People living with this condition may be unable to control or stop their hands from performing actions they did not intend.

Congenital Insensitivity to Pain

A leg with Congenital Insensitivity disease
Photo Credit: Canva

This sporadic disease causes individuals to lack sensation or perception of pain. While it may seem like a blessing, this condition can lead to severe complications as people with this disease are unable to feel pain when they are injured.

Geographic Tongue

A tongue with Geographic tongue disease
Photo Credit: Canva

This disease is also known as benign migratory glossitis, characterized by patches on the tongue’s surface that appear to move around, giving it a map-like appearance. While this condition is harmless and usually resolves on its own, it can cause discomfort or changes in taste for those affected.

Trimethylaminuria

Trimethylaminuria
Photo Credit: Canva

This genetic disorder leads to an excessive buildup of trimethylamine in the body, causing a strong and unpleasant body odor resembling rotten fish. People with this condition may experience social and psychological challenges due to the stigma surrounding their odor.

Capgras Delusion

A man with Capgras Delusion
Photo Credit: Canva

A rare psychiatric disorder, Capgras delusion causes individuals to believe that imposters have replaced their loved ones or acquaintances. This delusional belief can cause significant emotional distress and often requires long-term treatment.

Foreign Accent Syndrome

a man with Foreign Accent Syndrome
Photo Credit: Canva

This rare neurological disorder causes individuals to suddenly develop a foreign accent despite not having lived in or been exposed to the accent’s associated region. While it can be caused by brain injuries, strokes, or migraines, the exact cause of this condition is still unknown.

Exploding Head Syndrome

a man with exploding Head Syndrome
Photo Credit: Canva

A type of parasomnia, this condition causes individuals to experience loud and sudden noises in their head as they are falling asleep or waking up. 

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

a lady with Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
Photo Credit: Canva

Named after the classic novel by Lewis Carroll, this neurological disorder causes individuals to have distorted perceptions of their bodies or the environment around them. This disease can lead to visual distortions, like objects appearing smaller or larger than they are.

Prosopagnosia

prosopragnosia
Photo Credit: Canva

Also known as “face blindness,” this condition affects a person’s ability to recognize and remember faces. People with prosopagnosia may have difficulty recognizing familiar faces, including their own, and rely on other cues to identify people.

Synesthesia

Synesthesia
Photo Credit: Canva

Synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon where one sensory experience triggers another. For example, individuals with this condition may see colors or taste flavors when listening to music. 

Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration

a small gith with speechch difficulty
Photo Credit: Canva

This rare, genetic, neurodegenerative disorder is associated with difficulty with movement, speech problems, and visual loss. It usually appears in childhood and progresses rapidly, often leading to life-threatening complications.

Ondine’s Curse

A lady with breathing difficulty
Photo Credit: Canva

Medically known as Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome, this potentially fatal condition affects automatic control of breathing, often causing sufferers to stop breathing during sleep.

Paraneoplastic Pemphigus

hands with Paraneoplastic Pemphigus disease
Photo Credit: Canva

This autoimmune blistering disorder is a painful sores on the skin and mucous membranes. It is often associated with malignancies like lymphomas and leukemias.

Stiff Person Syndrome

a man with stiff person syndrome
Photo Credit: Canva

A neurological disorder, Stiff Person Syndrome features muscle stiffness and functional impairment. The condition can also cause muscle spasms and functional disability.

Erdheim-Chester Disease

Senior woman with Erdheim Chester Disease
Photo Credit: Canva

This disease is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis, with only a few hundred cases reported worldwide. It mainly affects adults and involves an excessive production of histiocytes, which can lead to organ damage.

Alkaptonuria

A man with Alkaptonuria disease
Photo Credit: Canva

Alkaptonuria is a rare metabolic disorder that causes a person’s urine to turn black when exposed to air. It can also lead to skin darkening and other complications due to a buildup of homogentisic acid in the body.

Hyper Igm Syndrome

infections
Photo Credit: Canva

An immunodeficiency disorder, Hyper IgM Syndrome leads to a decreased ability to fight infections. Individuals affected by this condition often have recurrent infections and can develop autoimmune diseases.

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva

A leg with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
Photo Credit: Canva

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva is a connective tissue disease that causes soft tissues to become ossified, turning them into bone over time gradually.

Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid

a woman with ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid
Photo Credit: Canva

A form of autoimmune conjunctivitis, this disease can lead to scarring of the conjunctiva and potentially cause blindness.

Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes

an old man with Paraneoplastic Neurologic Syndromes
Photo Credit: Canva

These disorders are triggered by an abnormal immune response to a cancerous tumor called a neoplasm. Symptoms include difficulty walking, swallowing, loss of muscle tone, memory loss, and many others.

More From Health Makes You

woman cant sleep
Photo Credit: Canva

Hearing loss is a serious condition that can significantly impact one’s quality of life. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the common bad habits which can lead to hearing loss. Here are 14 bad habits that could make you deaf if left unchecked.

14 Bad Habits That Could Make You Deaf

Want to Be Fit and Healthy? Don’t Do These 18 Things

happy healthy woman smiling
Photo Credit: Canva

Do you want to be fit and healthy? It’s time to say goodbye to habits holding you back from achieving your health goals. Here are twenty unhealthy habits to stop now and how to start the journey toward a healthier lifestyle.

Want to be Fit and Healthy? DON’T DO These 18 Things

The 20 Worst Habits That Are Destroying Your Heart

man snoring
Photo Credit: Canva

Living a healthy lifestyle is essential for maintaining a healthy heart. Unfortunately, many of us have bad habits that can harm our hearts. These unhealthy behaviors can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and coronary artery disease.

The 20 Worst Habits That Are Destroying Your Heart

The 30 Worst Foods to Eat After 30

disatisfied woman gesturing with thumbs down
Photo credit: Canva

Eating healthily is vital at all times, but after 30, consuming certain foods can harm more than help. By avoiding these food items when you reach your thirties, you can promote lasting health and happiness for years.

The 30 Worst Foods to Eat After Age 30

You Have No Business Eating These Foods for Dinner, Unless You Just Don’t Care

thumbs down
Photo Credit: Canva

Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but dinner is a close second. Eating a healthy and nutritious dinner can give you energy and help your body prepare for a good night of restful sleep. Some foods, however, won’t only deny you these benefits — they can create more problems. Avoid these dinner foods to keep your body in a healthy balance.

You Have No Business Eating These Foods for Dinner, Unless You Just Don’t Care

This article was produced on Health Makes You.

Recent Posts