Doctor: Teens with tic-like illness recovering

ROCHESTER, N.Y.?? For the first time since more than a dozen teens and one adult came down with a mysterious illness in LeRoy, there's good news about the case.

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On Wednesday, a doctor in Buffalo who is treating some of those affected gave the good news -- at least two of the girls are recovered, and three more are showing signs of improvement.

"There are two of the girls that are all better and there are three more that are just there," says Dr. Jennifer McVigh of Dent Neurologic Institute.

McVigh credits the treatment for conversion disorder, which includes behavior modification, psychological help and medication. But some parents are giving credit to a doctor, Dr. Rosario Trifiletti, a child neurologist from New Jersey.

Trifiletti diagnosed eight of the girls with a PANDAS-like illness, and prescribed antibiotics. Some say it's those girls who are getting better.

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While there seems to be a difference of opinion on who is actually getting better and what treatment is working best, most people are happy to hear the people with symptoms are improving. The hope is they all get back to normal, and life in the village gets back to normal.

"If these young ladies get better, we'd be delighted to hear it," says Batavia, N.Y. resident Russ Romano.

Gillian Romano says she feels the same way. "A lot of my friends have said, 'Why are you going to LeRoy for dinner?' and they think the restaurants are infected, when they are absolutely not.," she said.

Dr. McVigh says it also seems the fading media spotlight is helping the recovery along.

Also, the EPA is going to be removing barrels from the site of a 1970 train derailment. Though the barrels have not been connected to the Tourette's-like symptoms, lawmakers say removing them will give the community peace of mind after some questioned the symptoms stemmed from an environmental cause.

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich's team has been investigating possible environmental contamination at the school district's location since late January. The group has not found? evidence of toxic chemicals at LeRoy Junior-Senior High School, where the girls all attended when their symptoms began, although Brokovich issued a statement earlier this week saying testing would continue.

"While we certainly do not want to cause a panic in the community, we do want to be thorough and get to the bottom of what is going on in LeRoy," she said in the statement.

For more Rochester, N.Y. news, go to www.whec.com

Related stories:

Brokovich on the case: Activist probes teen mystery illness

Teen mystery illness diagnosed as mass hysteria

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46523792/ns/today-today_health/

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