Medical Monsters
This "bloodsucking" creature’s habits resemble the symptoms of anemia.
What is a vampire?
This sleep disorder causes people to act out their dreams- sometimes violently.
What is REM sleep behavior disorder?
Washing your hands can help prevent this common viral infection that spreads every fall.
What is the flu?
This element, once used in tonics, can poison and “mummify” you from the inside.
What is arsenic?
This organ pumps faster when you’re frightened.
What is the heart
This monster’s stiff, jerky movements might be caused by tetanus, which leads to muscle rigidity.
Who is Frankenstein’s monster?
A person with “split personality” might instead have this condition involving multiple distinct identities.
What is dissociative identity disorder?
The Black Death was caused by this bacterium carried by fleas on rats.
What is Yersinia pestis?
This heavy metal caused hallucinations in hat makers, inspiring the phrase “mad as a hatter.”
What is mercury?
Goosebumps happen when these small muscles contract at the base of your hair follicles.
What are arrector pili muscles?
This werewolf-like condition causes excessive hair growth all over the body.
What is hypertrichosis?
This disorder, often seen in horror movies, causes unprovoked seizures.
What is epilepsy?
This virus, named after a river, causes internal bleeding and a high fatality rate.
What is Ebola?
This toxic compound found in some mushrooms is also known as “the death cap.”
What is amatoxin (or alpha-amanitin)?
The “fight or flight” response is triggered by this hormone.
What is adrenaline (or epinephrine)?
A person turning green and enraged might remind you of this condition involving hyperthyroidism.
What is Graves’ disease?
The "phantom limb" phenomenon happens after this kind of medical procedure.
What is an amputation?
This disease, known for causing foaming at the mouth, can be prevented by vaccination after an animal bite.
what is rabies
The witches in Macbeth may have brewed this hallucinogenic plant also known as “deadly nightshade.”
What is belladonna (or Atropa belladonna)?
The brain’s fear center, often activated in horror movies, is called this.
What is the amygdala?
The zombie’s decaying flesh would be consistent with this rapidly progressive bacterial infection.
What is necrotizing fasciitis?
The ancient term “lycanthropy” now refers to this rare psychiatric delusion of being an animal.
What is clinical lycanthropy?
This fungal infection can spread in damp places and gives rise to the myth of "mold monsters."
What is aspergillosis (or fungal pneumonia)?
“Zombie powder” from Haitian folklore may have contained this neurotoxin found in pufferfish.
What is tetrodotoxin?
When you feel chills down your spine, it’s due to this part of the nervous system kicking in.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?