Medicine mix-up leads to children developing 'werewolf syndrome'

A group of at least 20 kids in Spain gets a rare illness with historical roots.

  • A group of children in Spain develops a rare illness called hypertrichosis or "werewolf syndrome".
  • The illness was caused by a medicine mixup.
  • Hypertrichosis has been documented throughout history in images.
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New blood test accurately predicts when people will die — within 5–10 years

The large-scale study got it right for 83 percent of participants. Would you take the blood test?

Photo credit: Miguel Bruna on Unsplash
  • A research team found 14 biomarkers can accurately predict death within 5–10 years.
  • Such a test could help doctors and researchers prescribe better courses of treatments for patients.
  • Information about mortality might inspire people to eat better and exercise more, thus reversing the effects of some biomarkers.
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New vaccine (for cats) nixes allergic reactions for humans

You want one. Now you may be able to survive one.


Photo credit: Jie Zhao / Getty contributor
  • Cats live in a quarter of Western households.
  • Allergies to them are common and can be dangerous.
  • A new approach targets the primary trouble-causing allergen.
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The best hospitals have more superbugs. Do patients have a right to know?

The premier hospitals tend to have the most superbugs — they also have the best experts.

  • Many of the best hospitals also have superbugs within their walls.
  • One medical dilemma is whether to tell patients about a superbug's presence: will it inhibit them from seeking care?
  • The best hospitals may have the most superbugs, but they also have the experts who know how to treat patients sickened by bacteria, and possess some of the most powerful antibiotics around.
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When your gut makes its own alcohol it's called 'auto-brewery syndrome'

It might sound like fun, but this rare condition can make life very difficult.

Flickr user theilr
  • When yeast becomes trapped in your gut, very rarely it can start fermenting alcohol.
  • Individuals with auto-brewery syndrome need to avoid eating carbs and sugar, or they can become incredibly intoxicated during inconvenient moments, such as when they're driving or working at the office.
  • The condition can cause a multitude of health issues and make life truly challenging for those afflicted by it.
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