Ondine's curse

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Ondine's curse

[on´dēnz]

a condition in which patients have lost autonomic control of respiration and become apneic upon falling asleep; it is due to lesions or surgery of the high spinal cord or brainstem; named after Ondine, a water nymph in Greek mythology who caused a mortal who loved her to sleep forever.

Ondine's curse

[ondēnz′]

Etymology: L, Undine, mythic water nymph; ME, curs, invocation

apnea caused by loss of automatic control of respiration. The term refers to a syndrome in patients with a defect in central chemoreceptor responsiveness to carbon dioxide. The patient is able to breathe voluntarily but has hypercapnia and hypoxemia. Ondine's curse may result in pickwickian syndrome or sleep apnea and may be one cause of sudden infant death syndrome. The syndrome may occur as a result of opioid or other drug overdose, after bulbar poliomyelitis or encephalitis, or after surgery involving the brainstem or the higher segments of the cervical spinal cord, as in cervical cordotomy for intractable pain.

A popular term for
(1) Primary alveolar (congenital central) hypoventilation (central apnoea)
(2) Sleep apnoea syndrome

On·dine's curse

(on-dēn' kŭrs)

Idiopathic central alveolar hypoventilation in which involuntary control of respiration is depressed, but voluntary control of ventilation is not impaired.

[Ondine, char. in play by J. Giraudoux, based on Undine, Ger. myth. char.]

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We even tap the myths to describe body parts as in the Achilles tendon, and rare disorders such as Ondine's Curse (congenital central hypoventilation syndrome), a condition in which one lacks the autonomic control for breathing (you must remember to breathe, or die).

A Kink in his armor: our take home message about Hephaestus is the same message we glean from hearing stories about others with disabilities. That hard work, diligence and support will prevail

It is also known as Ondine's curse, named after an ancient myth where a water nymph puts a spell on her cheating husband to stay awake forever.

I'M DYING FOR A NAP; Falling asleep can kill Emma

The disorder, also known as Ondine's curse, can be fatal.

'This is taking away 'Sam's independence' Mum's concern as mobility funding for son with rare condition is cut

Ondine's Curse may also be possibly related to Hirschsprung's Disease, but the diagnosis of CCHS is so rare that it has an estimated prevalence of one case per 200,000 live births, with only about 300 children living worldwide with CCHS diagnosis.

The straight scoop on neonates and pediatrics

His breathing difficulties are caused by a syndrome called Ondine's Curse, when the nervous system fails to control breathing while the sufferer is asleep.

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Doctors there discovered she was suffering from sleep-associated hyperventilation, also known as Ondine's curse, a condition in which breathing stops during sleep and Hirschprung's disease, a condition affecting the nerves which supply the lower bowel.

Home at last . . . baby born 14 months ago; TODDLER WITH KILLER SLEEP DISORDER SURVIVES FOUR LIFE-SAVING OPS

Just hours after Kalisha was born, doctors discovered that Kalisha had Ondine's curse - a condition in which breathing stops during sleep - and Hirscsprung's Disease, which affects the nerves which supply the lower bowel She has required round-theclock care and has already undergone four life-saving operations.

KALISHA'S FIRST VIEW OF WORLD; CRITICALLY ILL TOT FINALLY GOES HOME AT 14 MONTHS

CONGENITAL central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is also known as Ondine's Curse, named after a mythological water nymph Ondine who was punished by the gods after falling in love with a knight by being condemned to stay awake in order to breathe.

Home at last..baby who forgets to BREATHE; EXCLUSIVE DAILY Mirror BEST FOR REAL LIFE

One of the central apnea disorders affecting sleep is known as Ondine's Curse or Central Alveolar Hypoventilation.

Central sleep apnea syndrome

However, it took three weeks of tests before doctors diagnosed Ondine's Curse.

Breath of freedom for sleeping babe Sam

Little Sam Hermiston suffers from Ondine's curse - which means his brain forgets to breathe when he is asleep -but he has now gone home for the first time in 18 months.

Death nap tot home; But Sam needs 24-hour care to live

Ondine's Curse takes its name from a German fairytale about a cursed knight who could only breathe when he was awake.