Re: Le Roy and Corinth, NY, USA: Unusual outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in at least 22 people
It was suggested that this might be a good time for a brief summary of the status of the Le Roy outbreak. Here is an attempt:
Current case count and sex of patients in Le Roy based on the latest reference I could find dated February 8:
There are now 18 known cases of Le Roy students, as well as two adults, who have come down with illnesses involving involuntary twitches, movements and gestures, according to the Department of Health. Three have come to the attention of the Health Department in just the past few days.
All but one of the students are female.
(One of the adults has spoken to the media and is a female. I don't know what the sex is of the other adult.)
Time frame of identified illness in Le Roy:
1st cast was reported in September 2011.
Last 3 cases were reported in early February 2012.
Diagnosis by treating doctors:
As of 3 days ago, the Dent Neurologic Institute in Amherst, N.Y., has seen 15 cases
and diagnosed all of these cases with conversion disorder. (They think it is possible that there were one or two index cases with physical neurological disorders in the group of patients not seen at the clinic.)
Dr. Rosario Trifiletti, another pediatric neurologist who specializes in neuroimmune disorders,
released a statement on Feb. 24 reporting that he had seen 9 Le Roy patients. His findings were:
- A common strep bacteria in five of the nine patients
- An agent that commonly causes a mild pneumonia-like illness in eight of the nine patients
- Two patients met CDC diagnostic criteria for Lyme disease
- Patients are responding to treatment
- A PANDAS-like illness is a very likely medical diagnosis
Dr. Trifiletti
released another update after seeing
the two girls with similar symptoms in Corinth, a New York town about 250 miles from Le Roy. The patients are both high school age females. One became ill in May 2011 and the other in August of 2011:
P.A.N.D.A.S. - P.I.T.A.N.D. (P.A.N.S.) Awareness Ribbon & Research Support
Update on LeRoy cases from Dr. Trifiletti:
"UPDATE ON TOURETTE-LIKE ILLNESS CLUSTERS - the Leroy Syndrome
I had the opportunity to examine both girls from Corinth, NY area today. This makes 11 girls examined in all. I spent fours hours with the two families. Although these families traveled through the Leroy area over the past summer, I do not believe this has any bearing on this case. After taking their histories and examining them I am more convinced than ever that they have the same disorder as the Leroy girls and that this is definitely not a conversion disorder. It is a new clinical syndrome.
I think it's best to call this cluster the "Leroy Syndrome" as it does not meet clinical criteria for Tourette Syndrome, PANDAS or PANS. This is a matter of semantics, what doctors sometimes call "nosology"
The "Leroy Syndrome" has the following features:
1. Hyperacute onset - the cardinal feature
2. Exclusively, or largely female, post-pubertal onset
3. Ballistic tics, upper body, frequent unilateral predominance, frequent nuchal involvement with echopractic features
4. Occasional vocal tics, typically synchronous with ballistic movements
5. Occasional features: migraine headache, autonomic dysfunction (POTS and fainting)
6. Minimal or no obsessive-compulsive features or anxiety
7. Minimal or no cognitive decline
8. Minimal or no choreiform signs
The Leroy Syndrome is a PANDAS variant. All cases examined thus far have a GABHS or mycoplasma trigger. All cases are responsive to anti-inflammatory agents. All cases are treatable with appropriate antibiotics.
Dr. T"
Status of environmental testing in Le Roy:
I'll try to post more details on this later here, but at this point testing done at the Le Roy school that the original cluster of students attend has not shown any health concerns. The public water supply to the school and town tested without showing any health concerns. (I think more testing is being done by the school and the Erin Brocovitch team in the area.)
ETA 4/20/2012:
New York State Health Department has a link to their released information on the Le Roy illness cluster here:
New York State Health Department Issues First Summary Report on Le Roy School Case
On April 12, The EPA released the results of ground water sampling done in December 2011 at the Lehigh Valley Railroad Derailment site.
EPA website page with test data.
Cases similar to the Le Roy Syndrome:
The
two high school aged girls mentioned above from
Corinth, New York. (One case onset May 2011 and one case onset August 2011.)
One of our members posted about 2 high school students, (one male and one female), in
Indiana with some overlap of symptoms and timing. Here are some pertinent posts:
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=430354&postcount=5
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=437286&postcount=38
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=441019&postcount=125
On February 17th, a 23-yr-old woman in
Swissvale, PA reported an illness similar to the Le Roy Syndrome. She reported sudden onset of the illness occurred a few week prior.
), perhaps interresting ?