Infectious causes of Alice in Wonderland syndrome.

Abstract

Alice-in-Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a perceptual disorder embracing a spectrum of self-experienced paroxysmal body image illusions including most commonly distortions of shape (metamorphopsia), size (macropsia or micropsia), distance (pelopsia or teleopsia), movement, and color among other visual and somesthetic distortions. Depersonalization, derealization, and auditory hallucinations have also been described. Recent reports suggest that infectious diseases are the predominant etiology for AIWS, especially among children. This article reviews current understanding regarding the association between infection and development of AIWS.