Off TheirWithHeads!

For persons suffering from Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, they could very well find the loss of their heads a distinct relief, because this malady is usually accompanied by blinding migraine headaches.

Anyone can suddenly suffer from AIWS, but the symptoms (which include seeing objects as much smaller or larger than they actually are and the sufferer feeling as if they are much smaller or larger than they actually are) usually begin as a small child. Many people outgrow them, but others suffer from these debilitating symptoms for a lifetime. For some of the more unfortunate, the symptoms simply appear from nowhere and can be quite frightening, lasting for an undetermined amount of time.

The disease derived its name from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Alice experienced many of the symptoms of this disease, and it is believed Carroll himself may have suffered

A Rose By Any Other Name

The next time you bend over to pick a rose for your Romeo or Juliet, be sure not to prick your finger on a thorn. Lurking on the stem that holds those beautiful petals could be the fungi (or not-so-fun-guy)

Sporothrix schenckii.

Once this rather unromantic fellow gets under your skin, then the real problems can begin. Sporotrichosis, or Rose Picker’s Disease, can give you a very nasty skin infection and can also affect your central nervous system, lungs, bones, joints and eyes. Although a healthy immune system may make your symptoms milder, it is no assurance that this infection can’t become a very serious problem.

Maybe a box of chocolates might be a better choice.

The Butt Of Every Joke

LISTEN, DIARRHEA IS NO LAUGHING MATTER, ESPECIALLY IF IT’S BRAINERD DIARRHEA. NAMED AFTER THE NOWINFAMOUS TOWN OF BRAINERD, MINNESOTA, THIS DIARRHEA ISN’T YOUR EVERYDAY STOMACH VIRUS. IN FACT, RESEARCHERS AREN’T SURE WHAT IT IS AT ALL. WHAT THEY DO KNOW IS THAT IT CAN SEND YOU SCURRYING FOR A BATHROOM MORE THAN 10 TIMES A DAY FOR UP TO A YEAR OR MORE.

This malady, which was first seen in 1983 during the Brainerd outbreak that affected 122 people, has no known cause and no known cure. It has cropped up in several other states since the initial outbreak. So, next time you’re heading up to spend a week in Brainerd, you might want to take your own water… and food… and hand wipes… and antibacterial soap… and maybe an extra roll of Charmin.