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Mehdi Hassan, 8 years old, found himself slowly turning into a stone-like figure after he continued to suffer from a rare skin condition called epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. The condition left him with thick layers of skin that was itchy and irritating almost all over his body, the Daily Mail reports.
Hassan, who’s from Bangladesh, and his family was informed that there is no known cure for the skin condition. Hassan found it hard to walk, touch anything, or just do anything in general. The condition made him hide himself from his other peers.
Hassan’s story blew up and got the attention of the international media earlier this year. This resulted to a charity organized to fund his treatment. Due to this wonderful help, Hassan’s condition became better or at least, less invasive. The boy can not only play with his favorite toys, but he can also now eat and feed himself with his own two hands.
Jahanara Begum, Hassan’s mother, said, “After the news broke, some people from a charity approached us for his treatment and got my son admitted to the hospital. It has been possible because of people's support. They are paying for his treatment. It feels wonderful to see him without those rashes and blisters.”
Help to Save Lives, a local charity, funded Hassan and his family. They live in a separated village and the boy had to be taken to the country’s best medical institute for treatment.
His treatment included vitamins and regular application of moisturizers to his skin. Now that he’s getting better, his mother hopes that this would make Hassan more social again.
Jahanara said, “Children used to detest him. People found him filthy and abominate him because of his condition. Whenever he went out, villagers got scared and said bad things to him.”
Dr. Rashid Ahmed, head of the skin department at the Dhaka Medical College, “The treatment is long-term and will continue for at least four years. We are content with the improvement so far and hoping to cure him completely one day.”
According to the Daily Mail, the Genetics Home Reference provided this information about Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis:
“Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis affects around 200,000 to 300,000 people worldwide. It involves clumping of keratin filaments in the skin resulting in red skin and severe blisters. Newborns with the disorder lack the protection provided by normal skin, putting them at risk of dehydration and infections.
“As patient age, symptoms typically improve with blistering becoming less frequent and the skin less thick. There is no recognized cure, with treatment focusing on moisturizing the skin and physiotherapy to improve movement. Oral vitamin A drugs have been used with varying results.”
