Mysterious Illnesses at a High School near my hometown?

**The Doubtful Guest** · November 09, 2011, 06:06 PM

Ok, so there is this high school near me which is going through a strange medical...event ?lol(?) Which is getting a lot of people worried.

Apparently over these past few weeks several students (I believe it is now up to 9 or 10 despite what the articles I will link below say) have been reported experiencing "Torrette-like symptoms"

Obviously you can't "catch" tourettes. So what's up? A Rather idiotic Senior prank? All Students effected are female seniors at the school. My only other thought is maybe some drugs at a party or something?

Excuse my ignorance with my second theory (I'm a goodie two-shoes

) but is it possible that these girls could have went to a party and used some tainted drugs or something that caused these symptoms a week or so later?

It's just so......weird and slightly scary.

Note that I don't go to this school (I'm away at college) nor have I ever gone to this school. HOWEVER, my younger brother's indoor track team due to budget cuts at his school are bused over to train at this school's facilities because of its close proximity. My brother's school has suggested that their athletes NOT drink water from the school while training there.

Silly? Scary? What are your thoughts? I'll quit blabbering now and post some articles and a vid.

Video: http://www.wgrz.com/video/default.as...=1265231758001

1.
http://www.wkbw.com/home/Are-Some-Le...133365573.html
2.
http://wbtai.com/LocalNews/tabid/115...Tourettes.aspx

**Clibby** · November 10, 2011, 08:41 PM

Wilson's is also genetic, so I doubt it would be that either. Any acute expose to a heavy metal will present many more acute effects depending on the substance such as vomiting, blood pressure variations, and possible cardiac issues, blindness, etc. I would suspect an environmental etiology, however it would not make sense that so few students are affected if it isn't acute. I still suspect an external cause, so I would venture to guess that they were all exposed at the same time in a location outside the school.

Now I am thinking one of three things:

1) Drug abuse. They are having a bad reaction to a drug.

2) Mass Hysteria

3) This one is interesting. It could be due to some sort of encephalitis. Rare, yes; however, one of the girls reported neck and back pain. Neck pain could be indicative of lymph node swelling; however, back pain is not. If there is an outbreak of meningitis or some other infection in these girls, then you should expect it to spread soon.

**Claudius Gothicus** · November 10, 2011, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by Clibby

Wilson's is also genetic, so I doubt it would be that either. Any acute expose to a heavy metal will present many more acute effects depending on the substance such as vomiting, blood pressure variations, and possible cardiac issues, blindness, etc. I would suspect an environmental etiology, however it would not make sense that so few students are affected if it isn't acute. I still suspect an external cause, so I would venture to guess that they were all exposed at the same time in a location outside the school.

Now I am thinking one of three things:

1) Drug abuse. They are having a bad reaction to a drug.

2) Mass Hysteria

3) This one is interesting. It could be due to some sort of encephalitis. Rare, yes; however, one of the girls reported neck and back pain. Neck pain could be indicative of lymph node swelling; however, back pain is not. If there is an outbreak of meningitis or some other infection in these girls, then you should expect it to spread soon.

A combination of these 2 could very well be the case... but given the rather contagious nature of meningitis let's hope that it's not.

**The Doubtful Guest** · January 18, 2012, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by Clibby

2) Mass Hysteria

You win good sir

http://todayhealth.today.msnbc.msn.c...-mass-hysteria

This is so cool, I broke this story to you guys way back in November, it has since gone national and, even better, it appears these girls will eventually be better.

**Clibby** · November 10, 2011, 09:00 PM

I like those two the most as well. I was just thinking off the cuff of an illness that would cause encephalitis and would hope the physicians would test for it at this point with back pain present and an unknown illness. I also like the strep theory from RubiconDecision as a possibility. That one is much cooler since it evokes an autoimmune response.

**Ludicus** · November 15, 2011, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Clibby

...encephalitis

Possible, but unlikely.
They don't have a fever/severe headache/persistent vomiting/photophobia, and they were observed through the classical neurological examination.

What about syphillis

Impossible.The symptoms of tertiary syphilis can begin decades after initial infection. In other words, tertiary syphilis is not epidemic.

hysteria

Probably. "Epidemic" hysteria is a common manifestation.

**Ludicus** · January 18, 2012, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Ludicus

"Epidemic" hysteria is a common manifestation.

As I said before...post 8.
Epidemic Hysteria

**Clibby** · November 10, 2011, 09:21 PM

Possible but why are they all manifesting with the same symptoms and no mention of other muscle pain?

What about syphillis or increased estrogen from birth control (would explain why it is only women)? They are in high school. However, again I don't like how they all have similar symptoms.

I'm actually leaning back towards drugs, most likely stimulants combined with hysteria. That is of course as long as the DPH officials have ruled out heavy metal poisoning of lead or copper. If not then we should see more cases soon. Until I see more cases, however, I'm not buying it.

**Copperknickers II** · November 13, 2011, 05:12 PM

When you say Tourettes, do you mean actual Tourettes, or just shouting abuse all the time?

**Col. Tartleton** · November 15, 2011, 09:25 AM

Yeah because Toutettes is an agonizing seizure IIRC. The swearing or other eccentric action is in response to it.

**Sphere** · November 16, 2011, 11:37 AM

Being an internet doctor I can tell you with 100% certainty that this is a zombie outbreak.

I would recommend a pump or auto-shotgun, and a long bladed weapon. A machete works but a katana is better if you can find one. Automatic rifles are not good as you would think, the ammo is scarce and the wounds are less lethal at close range. And trust me, this is going to be some close range work, like Sandusky close.

**Clibby** · November 16, 2011, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Sphere

Being an internet doctor I can tell you with 100% certainty that this is a zombie outbreak.

I would recommend a pump or auto-shotgun, and a long bladed weapon. A machete works but a katana is better if you can find one. Automatic rifles are not good as you would think, the ammo is scarce and the wounds are less lethal at close range. And trust me, this is going to be some close range work, like Sandusky close.

I'm not a fan of guns for a zombie outbreak. Gun are loud and attract attention. Stick with crossbows, long blades (you don't want them getting too close), and a sawed off shotgun for when you are overwhelmed and can't run. A rifle will be good for long range, but I would suggest a silencer because of the whole noise issue.

Beware: incendiaries won't due you any good; they keep coming, they just on fire.

**Ludicus** · November 16, 2011, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by Sphere

Being an internet doctor I can tell you with 100% certainty that this is a zombie outbreak.

The fine art of medical diagnosis...

**Rebelyell** · November 16, 2011, 10:53 PM

I hope you intend to keep us posted.

**The Doubtful Guest** · January 12, 2012, 08:51 PM

First of all, let me commit seppuku over the typo in the title =l ( I have since fixed it)

But yeah... sorry guys, busy/forgot about this thread...

OK, so here's an update. This is beginning to look like it may go national lol. This is some serious House

.

Basically, more girl are developing tics, and talking to some actual students, apparently it's spreading towards younger girls now too 7th-8th graders (even though the official count you will see on the news is still only 12 girls).

My local area news source (just a freelance journalist): http://thebatavian.com/howard-owens/...comments-title

Professional area news source:http://m.thedailynewsonline.com/mobi...9bb2963f4.html

Like I said, it really is getting big though...when I picked my brother and a few of his teammates up from practice on Wednesday, the whole school was just a media circus.

It's funny though, the students seem aware but unafraid, their parents on the other hand are absolutely OUTRAGED at the doctor's vague (if that's the right word to use?) and secretive answers.

**Markas** · January 13, 2012, 06:25 AM

Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

**Psychonaut** · January 13, 2012, 07:12 AM

You know the movie The Crazies? Yeah, well... let's get a move on this.

**grandpa** · January 13, 2012, 05:35 PM

Wow, Amazing how such stories never see the day of light. THANK YOU for sharing this.
My thoughts and my families prayers are with the Children and families.
Please keep us updated. I have tagged the news station to follow it, if I hear anything I too will let all know.

God Bless the Children.