A little known condition can cause terrifying and incurable skin growths, with many having no choice but to face amputation.
The rare condition, known as epidermodysplasia verruciformis, is only known to be present in a handful of people around the world.
Dubbed tree man syndrome the people who have the skin disorder suffer from wart-like growths that resemble tree bark all over their bodies.
Although they can be removed by surgery, the condition often grows back.
It is triggered by a defect in the immune system that increases a person’s chances of contracting human papillomavirus (HPV).
And, not only is it visually distressing, it also physically painful.
Dr Anthony Youn, a plastic surgeon from Michigan, explained in a YouTube video viewed 150,000 times that: ‘This is a very rare condition, typically inherited by both parents.
‘People with this condition have a weakness dealing with HPV, the same virus that causes genital warts.’
Dubbed tree man syndrome the people who have the skin disorder suffer from wart-like growths that resemble tree bark all over their bodies
Abul Bajandar, who suffers from rare skin disorder known as treeman syndrome (Epidermodysplasia verruciformis) stands with his mother as he awaits treatment at the Dhaka Medical College (DMC) in Dhaka
Known as Bangladesh’s ‘tree man’ he had to beg doctors to relieve him of his unbearable pain and amputate his hands which were covered in bark-like growths
He added: ‘It usually presents in the person’s 20s. The person is also immunocompromised so they are more likely to pick up other illnesses. These growths can also become cancerous if left untreated.’
One of the few people in the world who have been diagnosed with the condition is Mahmoud Taluli.
The 44-year-old, from Gaza, had been unable to use his hands for more than a decade with thousands of painful lesions all over his body.
While he had limited movement in his right hand, he could not move the left one at all. For years he endured chronic pain and was embarrassed every time he left the house.
In 2019 he had a series of surgeries to remove the tree-like formations.
Doctors at Jerusalem’s Hadassah University Medical Centre carefully operated on Taluli to remove the lesions, grafting skin from other parts of his body to mask the wounds and restore the hand.
Mr Taluli insists his surgeries have ‘changed his life’ and mean he can finally play with his children.
Abul Bajandar, 28, has had 25 operations since 2016 to remove growths on his hands and feet caused by a rare condition
Mr Taluli said: ‘After years of suffering and solitude, I can finally live a normal life.
‘The surgery has completely changed my life. I can play with my children,’ NPR reported.
‘Aside from the pain, the disease is very dangerous and could easily develop into cancer,’ Taluli’s surgeon told the Jewish Press.
‘Taluli eventually couldn’t move the hand. He had become withdrawn and fearful of any possible situation that could cause him to show the hand to other people.
‘He kept the hand covered all the time and life was very hard for him,’ the hand specialist explained.
Other sufferers of the syndrome have been less fortunate.
Abul Bajandar, 28, has had 25 operations since 2016 to remove growths on his hands and feet caused by a rare condition.
Known as Bangladesh’s ‘tree man’ he had to beg doctors to relieve him of his unbearable pain and amputate his hands which were covered in bark-like growths.
But the father-of-one was readmitted to hospital in January because the condition worsened, with some growths several inches long
Muktamoni, the Bangladeshi girl’s upper body has been ravaged by ‘tree-man’ disease, local reports suggest
Exact figures on how many people have the condition vary from a dozen to around 200 globally
The former rickshaw driver was overjoyed when doctors seemed to have treated his condition, after cutting off 11lbs of growths.
But the father-of-one was readmitted to hospital in January because the condition worsened, with some growths several inches long.
He has made international headlines in his battle against epidermodysplasia verruciformis.
Mr Bajandar told AFP: ‘I cannot bear the pain anymore. I can’t sleep at night. I asked the doctors to cut off my hands so I can at least get some relief.’
His mother Amina Bibi said: ‘At least he will be free of pain. It’s a hellish condition.’
Doctors had believed they had beaten Mr Bajandar’s disease in 2017, at which point Mr Bajandar said: ‘I hope the curse won’t return again.’
One of the youngest patients to be diagnosed with the condition is someone else from Bangladesh.
Known only as Muktamoni, the Bangladeshi girl’s upper body has been ravaged by ‘tree-man’ disease, local reports suggest.
Left in unbearable pain, the right side of her chest stretching down to her hand has turned completely brown, resembling that of bark.
Her right hand, which is infested with parasites, also appears to be growing uncontrollably, curling up and making it impossible for her to use.
But bizarrely, the other side of her chest is unaffected, despite doctors saying the disease has spread through her entire body.
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