A 16-year-old boy in India has reportedly spent much of the past five years in a pond because being exposed to air causes him severe skin discomfort.
The unusual case was reported in Murshidabad, West Bengal, where Iqbal Sheikh and his family say he experiences intense burning and irritation when he stays out of the water for extended periods. Multiple doctors have reportedly treated him, but the underlying condition has not yet been definitively diagnosed.
According to the family, the teenager has therefore spent much of his time partially submerged in a small pond, with his body underwater and only his head above the surface. Images of him in the pond recently went viral on social media.
Iqbal reportedly believes that his condition may be linked to supernatural causes, although doctors are investigating possible medical explanations.
Teen Taken to Mumbai for Treatment
The case reportedly came to the attention of Anant Ambani, son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani. Anant Ambani arranged for the teenager to be brought to Mumbai, around 1,300 miles away, where doctors are examining him and conducting medical tests.
Doctors reportedly suspect that Iqbal could be suffering from erythromelalgia, a rare condition that can cause episodes of burning pain, warmth and redness in the skin. However, this remains a medical suspicion and further testing is needed to establish the cause of his symptoms.
Iqbal is currently staying in a hospital in Mumbai while doctors carry out examinations and tests to determine his condition and identify an appropriate course of treatment.
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