Ghost spell or hematohidrosis

• Published in: Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan Vol. 23; no. 4; pp. 293 - 294
• Main Authors: Khalid, Shahid Raza, Maqbool, Shahzad, Raza, Nusrat, Mukhtar, Tahir, Ikram, Aamer, Qureshi, Shahbaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pakistan College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 01.04.2013
• Subjects: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - therapeutic use; Case studies; Diseases; Female; Hemorrhage - diagnosis; Hemorrhage - etiology; Hemorrhage - therapy; Humans; Lost to Follow-Up; Propranolol - therapeutic use; Psychotherapy; Rare diseases; Sweat - physiology; Sweat Gland Diseases - diagnosis; Sweat glands; Sweating - physiology; Tears - physiology; Pakistan
• ISSN: 1022-386X; 1681-7168

Hematohidrosis is a rare condition of excreting blood in sweat, tears or any other part of the body, with varied underlying etiologies and variable success to different available treatment modalities. We are reporting one such case of an adult female who could secrete blood from eyes and ears simultaneously either due to crying as a result of emotional outburst or even sometimes voluntarily. Considering her origin from tribal culture, she was often thought to be victim of some evil spell. The lady had taken various spiritual treatments from Pirs and various forms of medical treatments from homeopaths, quacks and medical doctors, but of no relief. She was treated for 2 months with non-selective beta blocker (propanolol 10 mg thrice daily) along with psychotherapy. She did improve symptomatically but did not get complete cure. Eventually she was lost to follow-up as is common in female patients of tribal background. To our knowledge, this is the first such reported case from Pakistan.