Strange disease makes boys not eat and drink

After a serious illness a year ago, the 12-year-old American boy lost his feeling of hunger and thirst. Doctors have not been able to make any diagnosis about what may be unique in this world.

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Unlike other children of the same age, Landon Jones did not jump up happily when he had the opportunity to enjoy favorite foods such as ice cream, hamburger, pastries, candy or carbonated drinks. About a year ago, the mysterious disease left the 12-year-old feeling hungry. I often refuse to eat any kind of food or drink, even though these are the kinds of peers who always crave. The syndrome is so rare that doctors believe she can be the only one in the world.

According to CBSNews, the sign of a strange disease appeared unannounced a year ago. Waking up in the morning of October 14 last year, Landon was dizzy and excruciating chest pain. The scan shows that your left lung is inflamed by bacteria. The disease was quickly cured but after that, Landon began to stop eating.

For a year now, his parents anxiously take their children to see doctors at prestigious hospitals in 5 different cities. Through many tests, countless tests including spinal cord screening, electroencephalogram and psychological evaluation, each ability was in turn excluded. Doctors are still puzzled in accurately diagnosing the disease and finding effective interventions for Landon's condition.

Michael Jones, Father Landon, is trying to convince his son to eat after the boy goes to school on October 21, 2014.(Photo: CBSNews)

Doctor Marc Patterson, a neurologist who visited Landon in November last year admitted, perhaps this is the only rare case in the world.

Meanwhile, the boy's parents had no choice but to persuade and force their son to eat and drink to maintain life. Every day, Landon rarely eats anything more than a sandwich and a few fries at noon. Doctors must intervene by placing the tube directly into the stomach to provide enough nutrition for Landon.

One year lost the need to eat, causing Landon to lose weight seriously. From an energetic boy who likes to play with friends in the park, Landon lost 17kg of weight, more than 1/3 of his previous weight. The illness made me sick and always in a daze. Outdoor activities become a luxury, including a trumpet hobby. The boy could not attend school regularly with dozens of absences during the past year.

Investigating this rare disorder, experts are considering the possibility of Landon being a rare hypothalamus disorder . The hypothalamus is a pea-sized part of the brain that plays a role in controlling many functions, including controlling hunger, thirst, blood pressure and sleep. This area is also involved in the activity of the pituitary gland, the endocrine gland is responsible for the body's response to stress. Other causes of hypothalamus disorders include malnutrition, infection, genetic disorders, head injuries and tumors.

Another clue to the strange illness was linked up to three years ago, when Landon suffered from a sensational loss of consciousness. At that time the boy was often stunned and staring into the air. However, doctors have not been able to confirm whether the loss of consciousness or treatment drugs for Landon would affect the current status, and if so, how.

The boy's family contacted the National Institutes of Health (NIH) program of undiagnosed diseases to get further help. Every year, NIH only contacts about 50-100 patients with rare diseases for research specialists. Landon's parents hope the boy will be lucky to be among these.

In the United States, the disease is considered rare when it only appears on 200,000 people or less. According to many experts, Landon's situation seemed unique with much controversy that could not be over.