It is characterized by the belief that the patient’s penis is shrinking or retracting into the abdomen, and its eventual disappearance will result in the patient’s death. COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. [15] Similarly, a woman may be seen grabbing her own breast, pulling her nipple, or even having iron pins inserted into the nipple. Dr. Takano's Report on The Hinamizawa Syndrome. [5], In DSM-IV-TR, koro is listed as one of the entries in the Glossary of Culture-Bound Syndromes of Appendix I. [7], In Taoism and traditional Chinese medicine, frequent ejaculation is regarded as detrimental to health, as semen is considered to be related to a man's vital energy, and hence excessive depletion of semen may lead to illness or death. Originally thought to be a Chinese and Indonesian culture-bound syndrome, it has recently been noted to occur in “Indian” patients as well. Koro is a term, probably of Malayasian origin, a culture bound syndrome, which refers to an episode of sudden and intense anxiety that the penis will recede into the body and possibly cause death. It is characterized by the belief that the patient’s penis is shrinking or retracting into the abdomen, and its eventual disappearance will result in the patient’s death. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. [7] A 1992 study of self-report questionnaires suggests that in the epidemic area of China, koro victims are mostly Han, male, young, single, poorly educated and fearful of supernatural forces and koro. Koro syndrome can also happen in both men and women but in most cases is men. This article gave an excellent example of how a man discovers he is infected with Koro. Prognosis appears to be better in cases with a previously functional personality, a short history and low frequency of attacks, and a relatively uncomplicated sexual life. Koro can also be referred to as Nipple Retraction Syndrome when it “affects” females. There were a series of epidemic outbursts in 1948, 1955, 1966, and 1974, whenever there was social tension or impending disaster, followed by the last widespread episode in 1984–1985 and a much smaller outbreak in 1987. ference in treatment methods is regarded by some authors as a cultural recogni-tion of Koro as a real syndrome existing in different cultures [10]. In the 1950s, koro is noted in nosological and diagnostic psychiatry. [15] Patients are treated with psychotherapy distributed according to symptoms and to etiologically significant points in the past. Koro is a culture-bound syndrome delusional disorder in which an individual has an overpowering belief that their sex organs are retracting and will disappear, despite the lack of any true longstanding changes to the genitals. Initially, this syndrome was described as a culture specific disorder. 1995 Oct;154(4):1484. doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(01)66908-8. Durst R, Teitelbaum A, Cohen S, Rosca-Rebaudengo P. J Pain Symptom Manage. Since late 1996, a small-scale epidemic of genital shrinking was reported in West African nations. Victims in the African outbreaks often interpreted the experience as genital theft, accusing someone with whom they had contact of "stealing" the organ and the spiritual essence, causing impotence. [56] Later reports of outbreak suggest a spread beyond West Africa, including the coverage of episodes in Khartoum, Sudan in September 2003; Banjul, Gambia in October 2003;[19] and Kinshasa, DR Congo in 2008. Each syndrome is a relatively rare, yet extraordinarily intriguing pattern of behavior. Koro syndrome is not physically threatening since penis retraction is just an illusion. The physician should explore the patient’s concerns about appearance and body image (ruling out body dysmorphic disorder). [10] Koro may also be derived from Malay term Kura which means "head of turtle"[59][14] or keruk which means "to shrink". BDD is different from koro. The person will receive a yang- or yin-augmenting Chinese medicine potion, usually including herbs, pilose antler (stag of deer) or deer tail, and tiger penis, deer penis, or fur seal penis. Koro syndrome is a psychiatric disorder characterised, in its typical form, by acute and intense anxiety, with complaints in men of a shrinking penis or fear of its retraction into the abdomen and resultant death. [5][21] The presence of a significant suprapubic fat pad should be noted as well. In psychological terminology, koro is basically “genital retraction syndrome” (GRS). He is accepting new patients and has indicated that he accepts telehealth appointments. Treatment In cases of Koro associated with cultural beliefs, symptoms disappear with psychological therapy and can be prevented by providing information on anatomy and adequate sex education. Koro refers to the overwhelming belief by an individual that his or her genitalia are retracting or disappearing, without any physical evidence as confirmation. Originally thought to be a Chinese and Indonesian culture-bound syndrome, it has recently been noted to occur in “Western” patients. [14][35], A koro epidemic struck Singapore in October 1967 for about ten days. These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. ... components of the koro syndrome in a coherent way. [14], The earliest Western reference to the term koro is found in B.F. Matthes' Dictionary of Buginese Language (1874) of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. [59], Genital-related neurosis, in which an individual has an overpowering belief that their genitalia are retracting and will disappear, despite the lack of any true longstanding changes to the genitals. Sporadic cases referred to as the koro-like syndrome have been observed in western countries recently. Mattelaer, J. and Jilek, W. (2007, September). Antidepressant medications are often prescribed. Initially, this syndrome was described as a culture specific disorder. Government and medical officials alleviated the outbreak only by public announcements over television and in the newspapers. In men, genital examination should be performed immediately after penile exposure, to avoid changes due to external temperature. Other foods for therapy are pepper soup, ginger soup and liquor. In Western Koro cases, sexual conflicts and mental illnesses that may be the cause of symptoms should be sought. [Koro syndrome--clinical and cultural aspects]. A team was formed of interested workers The choice of psychotherapeutic treatment is based on the psychiatric pathology found. Fishbain, D., Barsky, S., and Goldberg, M. (January, 1989). [28] Penile dysmorphophobia is related to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (Text Revision) (DSM-IV-TR) as a condition marked by excessive preoccupation with an imaginary or minor defect in a facial feature or localized part of the body. [17], Local official records indicate genital retraction epidemics in Hainan Island and Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong, China, as early as the late nineteenth century. Koro syndrome is the fear that certain erogenous zones will shrink and end up disappearing in the abdomen. Be sure to call ahead with Dr. Koro to book an appointment. Elder JS. Koro is the fear of a man’ penis (woman’s nipples) shrinking and gradually absorbed by his/her body. Within 3 weeks of treatment with haloperidol the classic symptoms of koro disappeared. Koro was first reported in Western medical press in 1895. had viral encephalitis and Cotard syndrome. Koro syndrome is a psychiatric disorder characterised, in its typical form, by acute and intense anxiety, with complaints in men of a shrinking penis or fear of its retraction into the abdomen and resultant death. The manual gives koro's definition as "a term, probably of Malaysian origin, that refers to an episode of sudden and intense anxiety that the penis (or, in females, the vulva and nipples) will recede into the body and possibly cause death. [14] The term koro is also known as rok loo (genital shrinkage disease) in Thailand, jinjinnia bemar in Assam, India, and lanuk e laso by Bogoba tribe in Philippines. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional. [58], At least three publications of the 1880s, from US, Russia and England, reported genital retraction pathology, without using the Malay or Chinese term. The way Koro is treated in the Western Culture (here in the U.S.), it is through the Professional Sector. Hinari - Access to Research for Health programme. Koro is primarily an anxiety disorder characterized with sexual dysfunction hysteria and death. Re: The koro (genital retraction) syndrome and its association with infertility: a case report. [15], In the ancient Chinese medical book Zhong Zang Jing (simplified Chinese: 中藏经; traditional Chinese: 中藏經), retraction of the penis with distension of the abdomen was described as a certain sign of death. The cardinal clinical presentation of Koro in males is a state of acute anxiety due to the patho-perception of intraabdominal penile retraction or shrinkage and fear of impending death. We present two cases, one of a middle aged man whose koro-like symptoms have persisted for over 18 years in a relapse mode that is rarely observed, and one of a young schizophrenic, who also exhibits koro … [60] The term shuk yang (缩阳), adapted from Chinese, means "the shrinkage of penis". Learn More Learn More Listen. Prevention and treatment information (HHS). Koro is also known as shrinking penis, and it is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.. Koro epidemics in China were first noticed in a French report in 1908 and descriptions of koro entered clinical books of western medicine in 1936. For example, koro may fit into the group of "specific culture-imposed nosophobia" (classification with cardinal sign),[24] "the genital retraction taxon" (classification with common factors between syndromes),[25] and the group with "culture-related beliefs as causes for the occurrence" (classification according to how the syndromes might be affected by cultural factors).