Ondine’s curse

Ondine’s curse Failure of the central nervous system to control breathing while a person is asleep. People with Ondine’s curse usually have no problem breathing while awake. With Ondine’s curse, the voluntary control of ventilation that operates during waking hours is generally intact, but the involuntary (autonomic) control of respiration is impaired. Also known as congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), CCHS with Hirschsprung’s disease, congenital failure of autonomic control, idiopathic central alveolar hypoventilation, and central sleep apnea with severe hypoventilation. In Greek mythology, Ondine (Undine) was a water sprite who was condemned to stay awake in order to breathe.