RSS 2.0 Feed  A & S News  Character Analysis: Medical Conditions
Named for Literary Characters  May 22, 2009  What do Cinderella,
Dorian Gray, and Huckleberry Finn have in common? Besides
leading in the literary world, these characters and more have
come to represent obscure medical conditions. Although most
syndromes are named after their discovering physicians, here are
a few named after memorable literary figures.  Rapunzel
Syndrome: an extremely rare medical condition relating to the
ingestion of hair. People with this syndrome have also usually
been diagnosed with Trichotillomania, a psychological disorder
involving the overwhelming urge to pull out one's hair.  Dorian
Gray Syndrome: marked by one's obsession with his or her
physical appearance. Such people also have problems with the
aging process and use plastic surgery and heavy cosmetics to
hide their physical imperfections.  Mowgli Syndrome: seen in
children who have not developed adequately due to severe
neglect. Such children are oftentimes victim