Monday, 1 February 2016

Bangladesh man suffering from a rare disease called 'tree man' set to have surgery

A bangladesh man Abul Bajandra who has been suffering from a rare disease known as "epidermodysplasia verruciformis" or in a laymans world "tree man" disease for more than 20 yearsis set to have surgery to remove the branches that  have grown in his hands and feet.

"This is one of the most rare cases of disease that I have seen in Bangladesh, even in the world", said Lal Sen, the chief-coordinator of the surgery at Bangladesh's state-run Dhaka Medical Hospital.

The skin lesions started appearing when Bajandra was 10 years old.

A rickshaw driver in a small town called Khulna, Bajandra had to give up his job as his condition got worse over time. Now, he can no longer lift a fork to eat, or hold a toothbrush to brush his teeth.

The disease is caused by a defect in the immune system, which increases susceptibility to human papilloma virus (HPV). There are many types of HPV, and the most commonly reported are those linked to cervical cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

After attracting attention in his village, Bajandra's plight became known to surgeons in Dhaka who offered to perform the surgery for free.

"The surgery is a lengthy process and will involve many [operations]. The whole process can take up to six months," Lal Sen told CNN.

Like Bajandra, doctors are optimistic about the surgery.
Culled from CNN.

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