Helpless: Lauren sneezes 12,000 times a day. Agony: Lauren appeared on the show with her mother Lynn, hoping to find someone who could cure her uncontrollable sneezing condition. Blessing: As Lauren's mother explained that she had tried all sorts of conventional medications, Lauren sneezed again.
International Online Exclusive: According to the Daily Mail on November 11, American girl Lauren Johnson appears to be a normal child on the outside, but in fact, she suffers from a strange illness causing her to sneeze 20 times a minute, totaling 12,000 times a day.
Lauren is from Virginia, USA, and her non-stop sneezing symptoms started two weeks ago when she caught a cold. Lauren cannot attend school, and even eating causes her pain; the only time she feels relief is when she falls asleep at night. The doctors are at a loss regarding Lauren's condition. During a five-minute interview on an American talk show, Lauren sneezed hundreds of times, interrupting her speech every few seconds. Lauren has now earned the nickname "Blessing Girl," as she says she can't stop. She had anticipated this situation might last for a long time, but didn't expect it to have already lasted two weeks with no signs of stopping. Lauren stated that while she doesn't feel any pain, she does feel uncomfortable.
Lauren appeared on the show with her mother Lynn, hoping to find someone who could treat her uncontrollable sneezing condition, expressing how painful she feels. In the past two weeks, Lauren’s mother has consulted different doctors and tried 11 different medications for Lauren, but none have been effective. Only when she sleeps at night do Lauren's sneezes stop. Out of desperation, they visited the TV station seeking expert help.
Lauren said she even tried hypnosis, but it was still ineffective. Lauren also saw a psychologist to determine if any psychological factors triggered her condition. Experts believe that Lauren may not suffer from "machine-gun sneezing syndrome" but rather a "psychogenic disorder," possibly caused by too much stress. Lauren's mother mentioned that there are fewer than 40 cases like Lauren's worldwide, and no one knows how to treat it. The good news is that Lauren's sneezes are not contagious.