FREAKIEST DISEASES YOU PROBABLY HAVE NEVER HEARD OFF

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva

That’s what a skeleton looks like when every bone has been fused together. This terrifying disease is also known as stone man syndrome; it’s one of the rarest conditions known to the medical world and there is no cure.  Viewers discretion

Tree Man Syndrome

No, these people aren’t really turning into trees, but the reality is almost as scary. The official name for this condition is Epidermodysplasia verruciformis, but it is more commonly known as tree man syndrome due to the bark like appearance of the lesions it causes.

Hypertrichosis, “Werewolf Syndrome”

Some people complain about having to shave their stubble every morning, or pluck their eyebrows once a week; well imagine if you had the equivalent of a full head of hair growing all over your face and body. Werewolf Syndrome causes uncontrollable growth of hair in most areas of the body; some historians actually think the legend of the werewolf may have originated with this disease.

Progeria

This is what a person looks like when they age 5 times faster than normal; the boy in this photo is only a child. The appearance of people with progeria can be described as small, wrinkled, and hairless with a frail, weak body and large head.

Cotard’s Delusion, “Walking Corpse Syndrome”

Have you ever woken up and felt like death? Believe it or not there is a real disease that makes walking, talking people believe they are actually dead. People afflicted by this rare illness will be utterly convinced that they are missing internal organs, that they have no blood, or that they are completely dead.

Kuru Disease

Did you ever think it could be possible to actually die from laughter? Neither did I, but the horrific Kuru disease makes this terrifying prospect a reality. Kuru is a neurological disease that infects the brain and causes the afflicted person to laugh uncontrollably, despite a feeling of depression.

Foreign Accent Syndrome

Have you ever wanted to wake up one morning and have a perfect, smooth, French accent? Well that is exactly what’s been happing to people with foreign accent syndrome! Well, it’s not quite as easy as that; of the 62 recorded cases of the syndrome, all of them have either suffered a stroke, head trauma or severe migraines, so it’s not something you should be hoping for.

– Porphyria

Is this disease the source of the vampire legend? Porphyria is a disease which causes extreme sensitivity to sunlight, an aversion to highly acidic foods (such as garlic) and causes the gums to recede, giving the appearance of sharp fangs. Starting to sounds familiar? Some experts believe porphyria offers an explanation to the legend of the vampire, with symptoms that are very similar to what is described in folklore.