Recent reports of genitals disappearing around the country have sparked panic episodes about men losing potency and virility.
Friday saw 62 reported disappearances of manhood in the Federal Capital Territory, according to the Police Command.
Manhood vanishing is often thought to be ritual-related. However, Koro syndrome may be the cause.
A National Library of Medicine study found that Koro syndrome is a multi-tiered condition that causes a strong belief that one’s genital organs are shrinking inside the body.
The study “Koro Syndrome: Epidemiology, Psychiatric and Physical Risk Factors, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options” found moderate to severe anxiety attacks and a fear of death.
Yukino Strong of the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine found that young guys who believe in sex myths often develop anxiety, depression, or psychosis.
Strong and co-authors noted that while most Koro cases are self-limiting, the illness can damage self-esteem and quality of life, and some people may take drastic, physically dangerous efforts to prevent genital retraction.
The study’s authors found that men dread their penis shrinking into their abdomen and women fear their vulva and breasts shrinking into their abdomen and chest, which are symptoms of death.
Dr. Maymunah Kadiri, Medical Director and Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Pinnacle Medical Services, defined Koro Syndrome, also known as the shrinking penis syndrome, as an uncommon mental health disorder that has confused doctors and researchers for centuries.
It commonly occurs under intense stress, anxiety, or social upheaval in these societies. Significant life transitions, relationship troubles, and cultural pressures may increase the risk of this condition.
“The fear of genital retraction can become a symbolic representation of their anxieties, magnified and distorted within the confines of their cultural beliefs,” she said on Facebook.
She claims it is neither witchcraft nor a spiritual attack but has a remedy.
Another NLM study described Koro syndrome as a psychiatric condition with acute anxiety and a strong fear of penis shrinkage and abdominal retraction, which will kill.
The study “The Koro (genital retraction) syndrome and its association with infertility: a case report” noted that the syndrome’s association with a urogenital pathology is rare.
The aetiology of Koro is unknown; however, education, age, gender, and marital status are risk factors. The original study authors stated that Koro epidemics can emerge through news and media spreading concerns, opinions, and rumours, and the clinical course (days to months) is usually self-limiting.
They say Koro syndrome’s physical risk factors and comorbidities entail genital or urogenital dysfunction.
Male secondary Koro syndrome is caused by infertility, corpus callosum tumours, and urethrocutaneous fistula. Genital pain was linked to fear of genital retraction in an anxiety disorder and Koro syndrome patient.
The specialists explained that Koro syndrome causes acute anxiety episodes because of a person’s overpowering perception that their genital organs are retracting and disappearing into their body and that this retraction is fatal, despite no physical changes.
These anxiety attacks normally last several hours but can extend for two days. These bouts can last decades for Koro victims. Koro patients may also experience psychotic depression, which lowers self-esteem and mental health.
“Koro is diagnosed through psychological evaluation and genital organ examination to rule out physical disorders like hypospadias or measurable, sustained genital retraction. They stated that genital (penis) retraction despite objective proof, dread and anxiety, and physical attempts to prevent or reverse it are the main diagnostic criteria.
Medical, psychological, and social interventions are used to treat and manage
“If applicable, anxiolytics, antidepressants, sedatives, or antipsychotics are prescribed based on patients’ co-presenting psychiatric conditions because improvement in these conditions often leads to Koro symptom resolution,” they said.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
