When a 9-year-old boy caught the flu, he told his mother that it looked like she had shrunk while she was tucking him in for the night. It seemed to him, out of nowhere, like the whole bedroom was getting smaller. Confused, his mother figured this perception was due to his fever. However, the next day, he experienced the same sensation, even with a much lower temperature. Interestingly, the visual distortions occurred more frequently as his fever rose.
Once he tested positive for the flu, she started to wonder whether it might be affecting his brain. Her research led her to something called Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS). This neurological condition disrupts the brain’s processing of sensory input. It can alter how a person perceives visual information and even distort their sense of reality. Thankfully, AIWS is usually temporary and not harmful.
However, it’s considered rare, perhaps due to limited research and the fact that many cases go unreported or are misunderstood. Experts often dismiss it as a vision issue or hallucinations, which are not actually the underlying causes. Anjan Chatterjee, MD, a cognitive neurologist, describes AIWS as a “sensory distortion,” noting that people might experience either micropsia, where objects seem smaller, or macropsia, where they appear larger.
MaryAnn Mays, MD, a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic, mentions that AIWS might lead to other odd perceptions, like flat-looking objects or a tilted room. Some individuals also report feeling as though time is speeding up or slowing down. Additionally, there can be moments of depersonalization, where one feels detached from their body, as Dr. Mays elaborated.
As for adults experiencing this strange condition, Dr. Chatterjee confirms it can happen to them as well. Dr. Mays adds that adults may have these experiences just as often but might hesitate to discuss them. Potential triggers for AIWS can include migraines, epilepsy, viral infections, side effects from medications, or even brain tumors.
Unfortunately, there’s no specific treatment for AIWS itself. “Parents need to understand that the focus should be on treating whatever is causing it initially,” Dr. Chatterjee pointed out. This could involve managing migraines, addressing seizures, or simply allowing a flu to resolve. Dr. Mays also noted that many migraine medications seem effective in preventing these visual disturbances when migraines are the root cause.
