Tot born in Nagpur, Maharashtra is believed to be India’s first known case of Harlequin Ichthyosis – a severe genetic disorder.
The baby born in Nagpur, Maharashtra is believed to be India’s first known case of Harlequin Ichthyosis – a severe genetic disorder which leaves the entire body encased in armour-like thick white plates, separated by deep cracks.
A 23-year-old young woman gave birth by caesarean section to the baby girl at the Lata Mangeshkar Medical College and Hospital around 12.30 AM. A team of doctors, including Dr Yash Banait, Dr Prachi Dixit, Dr Meenakshi and Dr Nilofar Mujawar, were involved in the delivery.
“The infant was born with a congenital disorder, which occurs because of mutation in the genes. The overall incidence of Harlequin Ichthyosis is one in three lakh births,” noted obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Avinash Banait, told.
Paediatrician Dr Yash Banait said the poor child faces a lifetime of treatment and daily skin moisturising.
He said: “There is no cure for this disorder. All that medical science can do is try to keep the baby alive.”
Doctors say they’re applying petroleum jelly and coconut oil onto the child’s skin and giving her a special nutritional supplement.
Harlequin Ichthyosis, which affects approximately 1 in 300,000 births, requires intensive care at birth.