Koro vs. Kuru

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Koro: A culture bound syndrome in which a male falsly believes that his genitals are retracting into his body and the condition will cause eventual death. Usually affects a population and causes mass panic. Happens in south east Asia and similar syndromes occur in Africa. Koro in Malay means "retracting head of a turtle".1

Kuru: A prion disease that causes a progressive neurological disorder that leads to death. Symptoms include dementia, behavioral changes (out bursts of laughter), weakness and ataxia. Thought to have spread by the cannibalistic rituals in New Guinea in the 20th century. Kuru in native New Guinea means "trembling with cold and fever".2