nable to cry or sweat.
He also has urology and gastrointestinal issues as he was born with his anus clefted to his scrotum and had to have a colostomy bag attached to him. He has since had an anatomy restructure to relieve the blockage. However, doctors aren’t sure how long it will last.
The disease is typically inherited by the child from carrier parents. However, this was not the case for Ethan as both his parents were not carriers. His was a rare case of random genetic mutation when he was conceived, affecting only one person in 10 million people.
Today, Ethan wears dentures and has to be kept cool when it’s hot. He also has undergone 29 different surgeries, including one corneal surgery to prevent him from going blind. The symptoms of EEC are severe and affect the patient’s daily life – but, fortunately it doesn’t affect the life span. Ethan’s mother claims that he acts like other boys his age despite his disorder.
3. The child that cries tears of blood
3-year-old Ahana Afzal from India is crying tears of blood, literally. She started having nose bleeds when she was one, due to pneumonia. But, she now bleeds regularly from her eyes, mouth, ears, nose and private parts. The bouts would take place despite having no visible wounds and would leave her weak and exhausted.
Her father, Mohammed Afzal said, “the bleeding occurs for seconds, sometimes minutes, and stops by itself. Sometimes she bleeds twice or thrice in a day, sometimes five times a week. She would become unconscious or semi-conscious during the bleeding, and would also get fits.”
A doctor in Hyderabad has diagnosed Ahana of having hematidrosis – a rare disease where patient oozes blood from multiple orifices. From previous reports, hematidrosis is most likely caused by the rupturing of the capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands – causing them to exude blood along with sweat. This may occur under extreme physical or mental stress, although there have been cases where such conditions are not present.
Long-term treatment has yet to be found.However, Ahana’s condition is looking up with multiple transfusions and the bleeding has significantly reduced. MIMS
Williams Syndrome: When loving too much can be a disorder
3 diagnostic mysteries solved through DNA sequencing
Living with rare diseases