Puppy pregnancy syndrome

Puppy pregnancy syndrome (PPS) is a psychosomatic illness in humans brought on by mass hysteria. People suffering from PPS believe that shortly after being bitten by a dog, puppies are conceived within their abdomen. The syndrome is thought to be localized in villages in several states of India. Some psychiatrists believe that PPS meets the criteria for a culture-bound disorder.

Witch doctors offer oral cures, which they claim will dissolve the puppies. Doctors in India have tried to educate the public that this condition is impossible and a superstition, and that treating this condition instead of rabies can be dangerous.