Upstate NY Tic Disorder or Mass Hysteria?

[Beader]

I'm disturbed by what I have been reading about the 15 or so high school students near Le Roy, NY who have been exhibiting some kind of tic disorder which is now being called a "conversion disorder" by the local neurologist who has seen most of them. Yes, only one doc has been treating the vast majority. The school ordered some environmental studies which came back "clean".

However, several of the families have contacted the real Erin Brokovich for help in checking out the area. Apparently there was a massive chemical spill in 1970 from overturned RR cars, only some of which was able to be completely removed. Now the school administration is denying access to Brokovich's research team and not allowing samples to be taken.

This situation is certainly not sitting right with me. I know what the CDC did not do in 1982 in Incline Village, NV when there was a major CFS contagious outbreak. Nor in Lyndonville, NY a few years later and not so far away. If mass hysteria is so rare, then why is the neuro jumping to that conclusion? Yes, folks, we're talking about the Salem Witch trials, which some researchers now think may have been caused by ergotamine poisoning from mold on grain crops.

Some of the teens are now in wheelchairs and are unable to attend school. You might think that the school would be happy to have outside assistance, except that IF serious chemical problems do exist, somebody's going to have to pay for the clean-up. Plus it sounds like the doctor who sees all the kids is making his reputation by being the go-to talking head for millions of TV viewers to watch on national TV. What -- you don't have any associates? No second opinions? Good grief.

[Buttons2]

first off,Ms. Brockovich is a very smart lawyer (with her own law firm). nothing will stop her I'm thinking. might take awhile of course.

second,the neuro comes across as wanting far more than just 15 min. of TV fame.

and the parents? are they all stupid fools or what? if one of my kid's had this "mystery" affliction I sure wouldn't take the word of ONE doctor! the "mass hysteria" label just doesn't cut it with me.

my sympathy to all those suffering. and hopefully whatever has caused this will be found & all the students will recover.

and I can't help wondering how other people in the town are doing? if this is only the HS students then it just stands to reason it's something @ the HS.

[suse]

I've seen some of these girls on the news. It's been said that the school has been cleared by the health department AND the school itself. But I agree, one Neurologist?? This doesn't make sense to me at all.

suse

[mg12061]

I live in upstate NY. I haven't seen lot of the news on this. BUT over the weekend there were 2 more girls who came down with the same symptomes who do not live in LeRoy ( are local to my hometown) but did stop there over the summer when passing through for a sporting event. I believe there was also a woman who came forward with the symptoms, not sure if they've found her case to be related. If I was a parent I agree I would be knocking down doors of Dr.s and not elaving it up to one neurologist. I would not be waiting around. I would also be pressing the school board and superintendant to cooperate wiht whoever and whatever needs to be tested.
Mary Grace

[Beader]

Honestly, I think that we just don't know enough about all possible causes of neurological disorders to dismiss the severity of this cluster. The CDC and EPA should be scouring the area for any kind of link to chemicals, poisons -- any sort of environmental threat. They should be importing their specialists to thoroughly examine the patients in excrutiating detail. It's crazy to just assume it's "all in their heads". The US government has the facilities and the responsibility to address this issue, but I guess the local and the state bodies have to ask for their support first.

The thing is that the frequency of occurrence of these mass hysteria outbreaks due to conversion disorders are also very rare. This is some social psychologist's big break! Can they uncover some underlying issue that the docs [sorry, THE doc] suspect may be causing this psych cluster?

I'm actually glad this is getting good press coverage because I believe now we all get to watch how responsive various specialists in their respective specialties can be. Let's solve this one!

[Beader]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...4/1?csp=34news

Now they've called in a NJ pediatric specialist who thinks the teens may have PANS or PANDA. Many have tested positive for strep.

[Beader]

The news today is saying that two of the girls are quite improved or maybe "all better". The Buffalo Neuro group is claiming success due to their treatment for Conversion Disorder and less focus from the press. The NJ group is claiming it's their Rx for antibiotics to treat PANDAS that's making the improvement. You decide...