Why in News?

AIWS is a fascinating but rare perceptual disorder. It’s not dangerous, but it can be unsettling.

• AIWS – It is a rare neurological condition that causes temporary distortions in how a person observes size, distance, body image, and time.
• Nomenclature – It is named after the children’s novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
• Described in – It was formally described in 1955 by British psychiatrist John Todd, who noted patients’ surreal perceptual distortions while they remained aware of reality.
• Thus, it is also known as Todd’s Syndrome.
• Symptoms
  • Duration - Episodes are usually brief, lasting from a few minutes to about half an hour.
  • Objects appear larger or smaller than reality (micropsia/macropsia).
  • Distorted sense of distance (things seem closer/farther).
  • Altered body image (hands/head feel shrinking or expanding).
  • Distorted time perception (time feels fast or slow).
• Causes – It is not a disease in itself but a symptom triggered by underlying conditions.
  • Children - Most often triggered by viral infections (Epstein-Barr virus, influenza, varicella, Lyme disease).
  • Adults - Commonly linked to migraines (sometimes without headache), temporal lobe epilepsy, certain medications (e.g., dextromethorphan), or brain lesions.
  • Neurological Basis - Disruptions in the temporo-parietal-occipital junction, which integrates visual, spatial, and sensory information.
• Risk – It can occur at any age, but children recovering from viral infections and adults with migraine aura are most at risk.
• Diagnosis – There is no definitive test; diagnosis is based on symptom history and ruling out other conditions and supported by MRI/CT scans, EEG and blood tests.
• Treatment – There is no specific treatment; it focuses on treating the underlying cause. Infections resolve naturally, migraines need preventive care, epilepsy/lesions require targeted therapy, and reassurance is essential.

Reference

The Hindu | Alice in Wonderland Syndrome