Buzz
This list is a preview of our upcoming book, 'The Ultimate Book of Bizarre Lists,' launching in November. Inside, you'll find exclusive lists that aren't available on this website or anywhere else! Pre-order your copy today, and you can also purchase 'our first book.' Additionally, the first five people who post a review of the 'first book on Amazon' can email me their address for a chance to receive free copies of both books in November. Don’t miss out! This list covers birth defects – a source of fear for many expectant parents. Some are widely known, while others, fortunately, are extremely rare. Warning: some images in this list might be unsettling.
10. Conjoined Twins
The stories of conjoined twins (named after Siam, the country where the first recorded case occurred) are well-known. This rare condition involves twins born physically connected at one or more body parts. In the rarest cases, they may even be joined at the top of their heads. While some conjoined twins can be surgically separated and go on to live healthy lives, this is not always possible.
9. Ambras Syndrome
Ambras Syndrome is a condition that results in excessive hair growth on the face and body. Thankfully, it is an extremely rare disorder, with only around 40 known individuals in the world living with it. This condition can be profoundly difficult for children, as they often face social exclusion from their peers.
8. Fused Limbs
Fused limbs occur when two limbs are physically joined together. This condition can affect fingers or toes in some cases, but in a rare instance in Peru, a young girl was born with her legs fully fused, creating an appearance similar to a mermaid. The occurrence rate of this disorder is about one in 70,000 births.
7. Cyclopia
Cyclopia derives its name from the mythical Cyclops. Infants born with this condition have a single eye located in the center of their forehead. The cause is thought to be linked to certain cancer drugs taken by pregnant women.
6. Craniopagus parasiticus
Craniopagus parasiticus refers to a rare condition where a child is born with an additional head, the remains of a twin that failed to fully develop. Only ten documented cases have been recorded, with just three surviving. In one extraordinary instance, the extra head demonstrated abilities such as smiling, blinking, crying, and sucking.
5. Foetus in Foetu
Foetus in foetu occurs when a child is born with a fully formed twin inside their body, resembling a pregnancy. Both twins originate from a single egg, but at some point during development, one is absorbed by the other and survives parasitically. This undeveloped twin is often removed surgically with no significant harm to the host child.
4. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva
Children with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva develop bone in response to injury, where typically skin would heal. Instead of scarring, the child experiences abnormal bone growth that can become so severe it hinders movement, as the excess bone can fuse joints. Surgical removal of the bone is impossible, as it would trigger further growth in the affected areas.
3. Anencephaly
Anencephaly is a condition where a baby is born without a brain or spinal cord. There is no known cure, and most babies with this condition die during childbirth. As the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states, “a baby born with anencephaly is usually blind, deaf, unconscious, and unable to feel pain. Although some individuals with anencephaly may be born with a main brain stem, the lack of a functioning cerebrum permanently rules out the possibility of ever gaining consciousness. Reflex actions such as breathing and responses to sound or touch occur.”
2. Vestigial Tail
A vestigial tail refers to a condition where a child is born with a partially functional tail that includes muscles, nerves, skin, and blood vessels. This rare occurrence is thought to result from a genetic mutation that prevents the normal cellular death of body parts that are no longer necessary.
1. Progeria
Progeria is an extremely rare condition affecting one in eight million births. It causes a child to rapidly age, with signs like hair loss, wrinkles, and the facial features of an elderly person. The disease leads to severe arterial damage, which typically results in death before adolescence.
+ Gigantism
The image above features the 'bonus' item – a fictional giant baby born to a mother who stood at just 5 feet tall! This extraordinary baby supposedly weighed a whopping 400 tons. In the picture, a group of family members is seen preparing the baby for a hospital visit to get its shots. Clearly, this item is intended as a humorous exaggeration, as it is entirely fictional :)
