Jan. 18 update: the day after TODAY reported on the baffling case of 12 teenage girls at one school who mysteriously fell ill with Tourette’s-like symptoms of tics and verbal outbursts, a doctor who is treating some of the girls has come forward to offer an explanation. Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, a neurologist in Amherst, N.Y., says the diagnosis is “conversion disorder,” or mass hysteria.

“It’s happened before, all around the world, in different parts of the world. It’s a rare phenomena. Physicians are intrigued by it,” Mechtler told TODAY. “The bottom line is these teenagers will get better.”

Tuesday on the show, psychologist and TODAY contributor Dr. Gail Saltz noted that just because the girls’ symptoms are psychological in origin doesn’t make them any less real or painful.

“That’s not faking it. They’re real symptoms,” Saltz continued. “they need a psychiatric or psychological treatment. Treatment does work.’’

Officials from the LeRoy Junior-Senior High School in upstate new York, where all the girls attended when their symptoms began, have released environmental reports, conducted by an outside agency, showing no substances in any of the school buildings that could cause health problems.

Related: Click here to read the school district’s statement and full environmental reports

But some of the girls’ parents say they’re not satisfied with the explanations so far.

“Obviously we are all not just accepting that this is a stress thing,” Jim Dupont, father of one of the affected girls, told TODAY. “It’s heart wrenching, you fear your daughter’s not going to have a normal life.”

Read the original story, below.

By Scott Stump

High school cheerleader and art student Thera Sanchez  took a quick nap one day last October, and when she woke up, the life she had known was gone.

In its place, she was plagued by uncontrollable body movements, tics and verbal outbursts, similar to Tourette’s syndrome. It turned out Sanchez was not alone, as she is one of 12 girls from LeRoy Junior-Senior High School in upstate new York who has been exhibiting symptoms of a mysterious condition that has baffled doctors.

“I’m very angry,’’ Sanchez told TODAY’s Ann Curry during an interview Tuesday. “I’m very frustrated. No one’s giving me answers.’’

Sanchez appeared on TODAY alongside her mother, Melisa Phillips, as well as another one of the girls experiencing the symptoms, Katie Krautwurst, and her mother, Elizabeth Miller.

The mothers of the two girls are fighting for answers after state health officials determined that nothing at the high school itself could have triggered the mass illness. each girl has been examined by a private doctor and given a diagnosis. after a three-and-a-half month investigation, health officials ruled out carbon monoxide, illegal drugs and other factors as potential causes.  Officials say no one at the school is in any danger.

Related: Click here to read the school district’s statement and full environmental reports

“We have conclusively ruled out any form of infection or communicable disease and there’s no evidence of any environmental factor,’’ Dr. Gregory Young of the new York Department of Health told NBC News.

“Where’s the proof?’’ Phillips asked on TODAY. “Where’s the data? Where’s the testing? when has this been done? Nothing’s been collectively done for our daughters. Everything has been done individually. Testing they say that all the girls have had, they have not had. the facts that they’re stating just aren’t true.’’

The girls did not say what diagnosis they have been given, only that doctors have told them the onset of their symptoms was stress-related.

Sanchez, a 17-year-old senior and former cheerleader, displayed uncontrollable movements and verbal tics during the interview, while the symptoms of Krautwurst, a high school junior, were not as pronounced.  

“Mine’s more advanced, I think, because I’ve had it longer, but it’s definitely gotten better,’’ said Krautwurst.  Meanwhile, Sanchez said her own condition is getting worse.

On Oct. 7, Sanchez took a power nap, and when she woke up, she started stuttering uncontrollably and has been exhibiting her symptoms ever since, according to her mother. Since then, she has quit cheerleading and regularly attending her beloved art classes.

“mostly that it’s stress-induced,’’ Sanchez said about what doctors told her. “I was fine. I was perfectly fine. There was nothing going on, and then I just woke up, and that’s when the stuttering started.”

“I can’t explain it,’’ Krautwurst said. “they told us it was traumatic, but I really don’t think any of us had that traumatic of a life before.’’

Psychologist and TODAY contributor Gail Saltz said she could not make any specific diagnosis having just met the girls, but she stressed that just because the cause may be psychological doesn’t mean the symptoms – or the pain the girls are experiencing – is fake.

“when you’ve ruled everything out and they’re saying to you it’s stress-related, then you might call it something called ‘conversion disorder’ or ‘psychosomatic illness,’ which means that symptoms have been converted from something psychological into something physical,’’ Saltz said. “It usually is predated by stress.”

“That’s not faking it. They’re real symptoms,” Saltz continued. “they need a psychiatric or psychological treatment. Treatment does work.’’

For Sanchez, all she wants is to know what is happening to her and why.

“I want an answer,’’ she said. “a straight answer.’’

 What’s your theory on this medical mystery? Discuss on our Facebook page.

Font Size:

HPV or human papiloma virus has long been thought of as a disease that can cause cervical cancer in women.

Health leaders have recommended teenage girls get a vaccine to protect themselves but now they say boys should too.

Public health nurses say HPV is the number one sexually transmitted disease in the country with about 20 million Americans carrying the virus.

And a big problem: many people have it and don’t know, because they don’t have any symptoms.

Although it may seem early, health officials recommend teenagers get the HPV vaccine when they’re 11 or 12 years old. That’s to ensure they receive all three doses well before their first sexual encounter.

The vaccine can be given as early as 9 or as late as age 26. but nurses say it’s important for everyone both males and females.

“Obviously we’re protecting the males from getting certain types of the HPV virus but also in turn we’re protecting more females because they won’t be getting the HPV virus from the males,” says Carrie Sickler, RN for Marathon County Health Department.

Sickler says the vaccine has been recommended for girls for many years, but was approved for boys in 2009 and is still not widely known.

As with other vaccines, The Marathon County Health Department will administer the HPV shot for just 7 dollars a dose.

Nurses recommend your child get the shot when they come in for their back to school vaccines this August.

Latest Comments

Posted by: alan Location: zou on Jul 27, 2011 at 02:30 AM I have HPV and I am an engineer who works for the largest STD dating and support site STDslove. com. I have to tell you a secret, you can choose not to believe me. but the truth is that this site has more than 1,880,000 members and about 80% members are good looking in my estimation. unfortunately, STD rates soar worldwide and most people with STDs don’t even know that they have them. The government should grant more money for STD education to lower the rates of STD transmission.

A Disease Control Department vaccine specialist yesterday called on the Public Health Ministry to introduce a free-of-charge vaccination programme for cervical cancer so all girls who need the drug will have access to it.

Renowned virologist Prasert Thongcharoen, a vaccine adviser at the DCD, said the Public Health Ministry told a vaccinology course held by the National Vaccine Institute that 5,000-6,000 women per year die from cervical cancer – or about 18 women per day.

Dr Prasert suggested the ministry conduct a review of the effectiveness and efficiency of the current anti-cervical cancer vaccination programme, saying at present only girls from well-to-do families were able to afford the vaccine.

The cervical cancer vaccine is recommended for girls aged 11 to 12, although it may be given to girls as young as age 9. It’s important for girls to receive the vaccine before sexual contact and possible exposure to human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer.

If girls in that age bracket are not vaccinated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends catch-up immunisation for girls and women ages 13 to 26. the vaccine isn’t recommended, however, for women older than age 26.

In Thailand, some 400,000 teenagers are in need of vaccinations.

Dr Prasert’s call for free vaccinations echoes recommendations by the Royal College of Gynaecology of Thailand, the Royal College of Paediatrians of Thailand and the Thai Gynecologic Cancer Society. Those organisations say free vaccinations would help prevent up to 3,500 deaths a year and save billions of baht in annual treatment costs.

Dr Prasert said he was certain that if the government moved ahead with a free vaccination programme that it would be able to negotiate with vaccine producers for lower prices by ordering in quantity.

The Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Programme suggests that women who have not had the vaccine should submit to regular screenings or pap smear tests, considered the most effective method for checking for cervical cancer symptoms.

Latest stories in this category:

STD’s or Sexually Transmitted Diseases are those highly contagious diseases which are spread via sexual contact i.e. oral sex, vaginal sex or anal sex.

It is also known as Venereal Diseases. Nowadays, you even find people using the term STI which stands for Sexually Transmitted Infection. it is important to note that STI only denotes an infection caused by the germs or virus where as STD stands for those infections which have grown to become diseases.

It is found that most individuals affected by STD’s are not the older individuals but the teenagers and young adults. An early diagnosis of an STD can help in curing it successfully. However, there are still a few types of diseases for which there has been no cure found like AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) where only the symptoms shown are treated but treatment for the disease as whole is not available. Another one is a type of gonococci, which becomes resistant to the medicines prescribed to cure it and the medicines have to be changed every time.

The symptoms to any STD are often asymptomatic for the initial weeks i.e. it does not show any visible signs of infection. in the later weeks the symptoms exhibited by men due to STD’s are different but, here is a list of certain common signals to look for.

In case if you experience excruciating pain while urinating, an abnormal discharge from the penis, cloudy urine often accompanied by fever or even crusting of the tip of the penis consult your doctor.

At times those infected by an STD even show symptoms like blisters, sores, warts, rashes etc around the genital areas. Consult your doctor as soon as possible in cases if you experience abnormal itching sensation, burning, swelling and pain in the genital area. You may even experience tenderness, pain and swelling in the scrotum.

The symptoms often come and go. do not mistake the ‘gone period’ as the disappearance of disease. It is essential that when you visit the doctor you give him a detailed description of the disease. This in turn would help him in diagnosing the disease properly.

Timely check-ups for STD’s would also prove beneficial. Never let the symptoms persist as they may turn even more serious as days pass.

Symptoms of depression may vary from person to person. Also symptoms in teenagers are little different than adults.

Mood: Mood of the patient shows the symptoms of depression. People who are victim of depression mostly feel sad or blue. The patient wants to remain alone and feels relaxed in darkness. He/she loses interest in even those activities which are if his interest. he avoids meeting any visitor and restricts his social activities. he may also avoid meeting relatives and friends. he may get irritated over simple matters. Depressed patients also get angry over silly matters.

Appetite and Weight: Weight and appetite also show symptoms of depression. The patient’s appetite increases or decreases abnormally. If his appetite increases than his weight start increasing and if appetite decreases than his weight decreases. Depression patients show noticeable weight gain or weight loss.

Weakness: Fatigue or tiredness is another symptom of depression. People feel very weak and tired without any obvious reasons. Patients feel deprived of energy without doing any hard work.

Thoughts: Feelings towards himself and towards the world change. he may keep feeling guilty and worthless. he may even get suicidal thoughts and may speak to you regarding committing suicide.

Sleep Problems: Depression patients start facing sleep problems. they may wake up at night or find difficulty in sleeping. some patients also show signs of excessive sleeping.

Memory Problem: Patients with depression face memory problems. they forget things easily and are unable to concentrate on anything. School going children with depression symptoms may perform badly in school. they may complain about stomachaches and headaches frequently.

Symptoms in Adolescents: They become less concerned about their lives and don’t bother about their safety. they take risks such as driving with high speed, getting addicted to drugs or alcohol. they also indulge in unprotected sex.

There are various other symptoms of depression such as feeling of hopelessness, helplessness etc. People start feeling that they are burden to others hence they have no right to live; which make them think that they should commit suicide. some people don’t want to be left alone and some patients don’t want to do even smallest task because they think that those tasks are impossible to be done. Depression patients lose their confidence.

You should take depression symptoms seriously and consult doctor regarding it. there are vitamins for depression which can reduce depression symptoms.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of U.S. teenagers and young adults who say they are abstaining from sex is on the rise, even as more young women report having sexual contact with each other, U.S. government researchers said on Thursday.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in 2006-2008, 29 percent of women and 27 percent of men ages 15 to 24 reported not having any sexual contact compared with 22 percent in 2002.

At the same time, the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics found a growing number of young women who said they have had some form of sex with another woman, rising to 13 percent in the latest survey, from about 12 percent in the 2002 survey.

The number of young men reporting same-sex encounters fell from 5 percent to 4 percent over the same time period.

It also showed an overall increase in reports of the sexually transmitted disease Chlamydia, especially among 15 to 19-year-olds. The bacterial infection is the most common STD in the United States and can lead to complications if untreated. Some people have no symptoms, making it easier to spread.

The CDC report aims to provide data to help health officials prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies nationwide.

Its findings for 2006 to 2008 are based on interviews with about 13,500 men and women ages 15 to 44. overall, it found few changes in the nation's sexual patterns compared to CDC's last survey in 2002.

Among teens, however, the center this time tried to take a closer look at certain, specific sexual behaviors that youth may not typically report as sex because it is not traditional vaginal intercourse.

"This focused look at oral and anal sex among teens and young adults is prompted by concerns that some young people may engage in other types of sexual contact before they have vaginal intercourse, to avoid the risk of pregnancy," researchers said.

"in addition to placing themselves at risk of STIs (sexually transmitted infections), some studies have documented that engaging in these other types of sexual contact may hasten young people's initiation of vaginal intercourse," they added.

Of youth aged 15 to 24 who said they have had sex, nearly 63 percent of women and 64 percent of men had oral sex compared to nearly 69 percent in 2002.

About 21 percent of young men said they have had anal sex, compared to nearly 22 percent in 2002, while the number of young women having anal sex was unchanged at about 20 percent.

Asthma is a lung disease characterized by inflamed airways that connect to the lungs. because of this inflammation, air isn’t able to travel through these airways and therefore makes it very hard to breathe. This will cause asthma sufferers to try even harder to get air in their lungs, which results in coughing and wheezing.

There are several reasons why the airways could have inflammation. Asthma sufferers are allergic primarily to specific substances. not every patient is allergic to the same thing. Allergies may be caused by heavy pollution, cold air, pollens, and dust. Other triggers of asthma include stress and tension. Occasionally, the inflammation of the airways will diminish by itself and not require treatment at all. Though, if the symptoms continue then applying treatment is safe.

the number of people with the disease is on the rise, and the reasons why could include more and more pollution and lifestyle changes . while all ages are affected, children and teenagers are most likely to get it. Allergies and genetics are the primary causes for asthma in children.

the triggers of asthma are different for each case, so identifying them is important for each patient so they can avoid being exposed to them. For those who have cold air as a trigger, you will normally be impacted by it during the early morning or at night when the temperatures are cooler. When pollens are a trigger, then asthma attacks can occur when certain flowers are being planted.

Understanding the asthma symptoms is important in the early stages. if asthma is not treated in a timely manner, then the patient’s life could be in jeopardy. having access to medicine is vital just in case an attack occurs. an inhaler is the most common treatment, and either the patient or someone around must have it especially when participating in sports or exercise. the symptoms should not be allowed to persist.

Asthma patients must take their medication when required. Cortisones should be avoided as the side effects can be very harmful. Always see a doctor first before proceeding, and try to stay with one doctor.

Yoga and breathing exercises are also helpful toward living a healthy lifestyle as it will decrease the possibility of having an asthma attack.

See Also: Signs of Asthma in Children, Preventing Asthma Wheezing, Asthma and Acid Reflux

Former Big Brother contestant Kenneth Tong has been tweeting that women should aspire to “managed anorexia”. Celebrities are already condemning him, but is there such a thing?

What is anorexia?

Anorexia nervosa has a higher risk of killing you than many other mental health disorders. it is not extreme dieting, but a mental health problem defined by a distorted body image and weight at least 15% under what is considered normal for the individual. Studies show that people with anorexia are 10 times more likely to die than other people of their age and sex.

What are the symptoms?

Dieting is so common among teenagers that parents rarely suspect anorexia. People with it will be scared about getting fat, and preoccupied with their body. they miss meals and develop strategies to look as though they are eating by moving food around the plate or saying they’ve already eaten elsewhere. they will deny they have a problem. they may throw up, use laxatives or exercise constantly. they may stop having periods, develop downy hair on their faces and upper bodies, and feel cold, dizzy and tired. Long-term anorexia causes thinning of the bones, heart problems and kidney failure.

There is a screening called the Scoff questionnaire – two or more yeses to the following questions suggest there is a problem: Do you ever make yourself sick because you feel uncomfortable? Do you worry you have lost control over how much you eat? have you recently lost more than one stone in a three-month period? Do you believe yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin? Would you say that food dominates your life?

What causes it?

No one knows. it is more common among societies where thinness is admired and in professions where it is essential, such as ballet and modelling. Low self-esteem, a history of abuse, and being teased about your body may make you more susceptible, and there may be a genetic influence. there is evidence that premature baby girls are at increased risk.

How can it be treated?

People with anorexia need to put on weight and change their relationship with food. Research suggests three quarters of people have been ill for between one and 15 years. One study found that about 43% of people recover, 36% improve, 20% have a chronic problem and 5% die from anorexia.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much evidence for what works. Family therapy may help, and some people may need to be admitted to hospital. Teenagers not at risk of dying can do better in specialist outpatient clinics.

When should I see my doctor?

If you answered two yeses to the Scoff questionnaire. Anorexia is not a manageable way of life. It’s a disorder that can kill you.

(Reuters Health) – Though millions will turn to the herb echinacea for some relief this cold season, a study out Monday suggests they will get little, if any, benefit.

Based on their findings, the researchers say they cannot recommend the popular herbal remedy to cold sufferers. But they are not advising people against using it, either.

Echinacea, which is derived from the coneflower, has long been touted as a way to bolster immunity and prevent or ease the common cold.

Over the years, though, studies have come to conflicting conclusions as to whether the herb really works. And even the positive ones have generally suggested modest benefits at best.

In this latest study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers pitted an echinacea supplement against inactive placebo pills for easing cold symptoms among 719 adults and teenagers.

They found that echinacea users recovered slightly more quickly — an average of a half-day sooner — and reported somewhat less severe symptoms.

But even those small differences were not quite statistically significant, which means they could have been due to chance.

“this echinacea formulation, which is a good one, did not show any major effect,” said lead researcher Dr. Bruce Barrett, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

On the other hand, he told Reuters Health, the findings do not rule out the possibility of a modest benefit.

Barrett said that while some experts will consider this study the “final nail in the coffin” for echinacea as a cold fighter, the positive findings from some past studies complicate the picture.

“before this trial, the evidence was inconclusive,” Barrett said. “And I don’t think we’re past the inconclusive stage.”

So what does that mean for cold sufferers right now? according to Barrett, it depends.

“If you’re an adult who has tried echinacea in the past and been happy with it, this study does not say you should stop using it,” he said. “on the other hand, it certainly doesn’t tell you should start.”

The problem with the common cold is that it can be caused by any of over 200 different viruses. so it is ubiquitous (Americans alone come down with 1 billion colds each year) and resistant to the treatments we throw at it, with symptoms like congestion, sore throat and cough often lasting up to two weeks.

There are treatments that can make symptoms less severe, like acetaminophen for the headache and decongestants for the stuffy nose. But nothing — from cold medications to vitamin C — seems to speed recovery from the infection.

“there are no treatments out there that have been shown to reduce the duration of colds,” Barrett said.

And though a decongestant or cough suppressant might bring some temporary reprieve, they can also have side effects like dizziness, drowsiness or insomnia. so many people opt for alternative remedies that are commonly seen as safer. one study found that from 2000 to 2006, Americans shelled out between $100 million and $200 million per year on echinacea alone.

For the current study, Barrett’s team recruited 719 12- to 80-year-olds who had developed cold symptoms within the past 36 hours. They randomly assigned the patients to take nothing, use placebo tablets or use echinacea tablets; of the echinacea users, half knew they were taking the herb, while the half did not whether they were taking echinacea or the placebo.

The echinacea groups took a formulation made from the root of the plant, which is rich in constituents that, some studies suggest, would be most likely to battle cold symptoms. The patients took eight echinacea tablets on the first day of the study, then four a day over the next four days.

On average, the study found, people in both echinacea groups suffered cold symptoms for between six and seven days. The placebo and no-pill groups differed from them by only a matter of hours — roughly a half-day.

Similarly, there was no clear difference when the researchers looked at the groups’ self-rated symptom severity, which each patient had recorded twice a day while the cold lasted.

The researchers found no evidence that echinacea users suffered side effects, like headache, stomach upset or diarrhea, at a higher rate than the untreated groups.

That’s in line with the low risk of side effects studies have generally found when echinacea is taken as directed — though there is a small chance of allergic reaction.

As far as effectiveness, however, even the studies with positive results suggest echinacea has only modest benefits against cold symptoms.

“No large, well-done clinical trial has shown a large benefit,” Barrett said. “It doesn’t stop a cold in its tracks, that’s for sure.”

For people looking for non-drug ways to soften the blow of cold season, Barrett suggested tactics like getting plenty of fluids, getting enough rest and, yes, having some old-fashioned chicken soup.

Those things may not chase away a cold, but they can help you feel better while it’s around, he said.

The current study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. some of the co-researchers on the work are with Warwick, Australia-based MediHerb, maker of the echinacea product used in the study.

Sources

link.reuters.com/fuz54p Annals of Internal Medicine, December 21, 2010.

Related Posts

1. Heart failure breakthrough: study shows major improvement with acupuncture …
2. Vitamin E shows immune boosting potential: Study …
3. Glucosamine No help for low back Pain …
4. Prediabetes Precautions often Ignored …
5. Study backs heart-healthy effect of dairy fat …