January 30, 2011

Le Roy, N.Y. Teen Mystery Illness May Be Environmental, Says Top Neurologist

A strange neurological mystery illness is affecting over a dozen teens at a high school in upstate New York, resulting in debilitating twitches, pain and spasms.

The CBS News affiliate in New York reports that high school students are stricken with an unexplainable set of symptoms. 

One student, Thera Sanchez, awoke up from a nap with tremors and shaking. "It's very heartbreaking to me to be honest, knowing that right now I can't do what I love," she told CBS News.

Other students also had the onset of shaking, stuttering and uncontrollable body shaking and pain just as suddenly and without warning.

This condition has completely baffled the medical community in Genesee County town, reported first by CBS 2 news Maurice Dubois. 

CBS News reports that even the local neurologists are having a hard time understanding why this is happening in the small community.

"Last time I went to the neurologist, they said they're not sure and they'll keep looking into it, but besides that they haven't told anyone anything," Lydia Parker told CBS News.

According to CBS News, twelve of the cases have been confirmed as conversion disorder. Three new cases are suspected.

Dr. Jennifer McVige tells CBS News that this means that stress or multiple stressors are creating a "physical reaction" within the body. "This is unconscious. It is not done purposefully," she says.

But the families and those suffering are quick to dispel the notion it is psychological.
"I don't think this is in my head. I don't think I can wake up from a nap and this can happen," Sanchez said.

Board Certified Neurologist William Chow, M.D. of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Chow told Monsters and Critics today that this mystery affliction may be environmental in basis:

"These are very unusual neurological presentations for movement disorders in young kids," says Dr. Chow. "The ones diagnosed as Conversion Disorders are likely psychiatric in nature. I would be curious to see if they checked everyone for heavy metal toxicity such as lead, mercury, arsenic, copper and manganese."

Local health officials have ruled out drugs, head trauma and environmental factors, but CBS News says noted activist Erin Brockovich questions the effects of natural gas wells near the Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School, and toxic remnants from a 1970 train derailment.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke continue to research the growing disorder in the township.

Original Article

More about Dr. Chow and Cedars-Sinai