A disorder characterized by nearly uncontrollable paroxysms
of sneezing provoked in a reflex fashion by the sudden exposure of a dark-adapted
subject to intensely bright light, usually to brilliant sunlight. The number of
successive sneezes is usually 2 or 3, but can be up to about 40. The achoo syndrome
is also called the photic sneeze reflex or the helio-ophthalmic outburst syndrome.
T he syndrome is much more common than has been generally recognized. In one
study it was found in 23% of medical students. The syndrome is one of the most frequent
of all known genetic traits. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, affecting
males and females alike, who have a 50:50 chance of passing the achoo gene to each
of their children who will have the disorder. The syndrome was first described in
1978.
One physician reported that he had suffered from photic sneezing for over 20
years and, having just learned of the existence of the syndrome, found that the
"symptoms are more easily tolerated if you can put a name to them, even if that
produces only an illusory understanding of their significance." He commented on
the potential hazards of photic sneezing if it occurs while one is driving a car
on a sunny day. Tunnels and shadows created by tall buildings and forested terrain
can induce sneezing upon re-entering the bright sunlight.
References alluded to in the text:
WR Collie, RA Pagon, JG Hall, MHK Shokeir: ACHOO syndrome (helio-ophthalmic
outburst syndrome). Birth Defects Orig. Art. Ser. XIV(6B): 361-363, 1978. (The
original description of the syndrome.)
EW Benbow: Practical hazards of photic sneezing. Brit. J. Ophthal. 75: 447,
1991. (The physician who discovered he had the syndrome.)
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