DID YOU KNOW THAT THE SUN MAKES SOME PEOPLE SNEEZE?

WHAT IS PHOTO SNEEZE REFLEX (AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT COMPELLING HELIO-OPHTHALMIC OUTBURST)?

This a condition of uncontrollable sneezing in response to numerous stimuli, such as looking at bright lights or periocular (surrounding the eyeball) injection. The condition affects 18–35% of the population, but its exact mechanism of action is not well understood.

Photic sneezing, also sometimes referred to using the contrived acronym Autosomal dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst (ACHOO) syndrome, and the "Peroutka Sneeze Gene",is a hereditary trait which causes sneezing, possibly many times consecutively (due to naso-ocular reflex) when suddenly exposed to bright light. 

The first mention of the phenomenon is probably in a work attributed to Aristotle (Problems, book XXXIII) (which was in fact written later: between the third century BC and the 6th century AD).

The photic sneeze reflex manifests itself in the form of uncontrollable sneezing in response to a stimulus which would not produce a sneeze in people without the trait. The sneezes generally occur in bursts of 1 to 10 sneezes, followed by a refractory period that can be as long as 24 hours.

MANAGEMENT

While this phenomenon is poorly understood, recent research has shown that antihistamines being used to treat rhinitis due to seasonal allergies may also reduce the occurrence of photic sneezes in people affected by both conditions.

Some people may find relief by shielding their eyes and/or faces with hats, scarves, and sunglasses.



:Courtesy of Wikipedia