Shocked mum of baby boy born with bulging eyes and shell-like body refused to breastfeed her ‘alien’ son
Doctors in India have diagnosed the boy with an extremely rare genetic condition called harlequin ichthyosis
A MUM has given into her instincts and begun to breastfeed her baby boy, despite calling him an ‘alien’ for his deformities.
The unusual looking baby, from India, was born with a tiny head, bulging eyes and a hard, shell-like body.
He has been swarmed by local visitors who believe he is a reincarnation of a Hindu God.
Mum-of-four Khalida Begum, 35, gave birth to the little boy on Monday and said she was “shocked” when she saw his appearance.
She initially refused to breastfeed the baby, who was born prematurely.
Doctors in India have diagnosed the boy with an extremely rare genetic condition called harlequin ichthyosis, locals said.
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Villagers in Kadamgachi in Kathihar, are now flocking to the family home, believing he is an incarnation of Hindu monkey God Hanuman, it has been reported.
His mother said: "Several body parts of the baby is not completely developed.
"When I saw the baby after delivery for the first time, I was completely shocked to see the alien-looking boy.
"I couldn't believe that I had a delivered an alien-like boy.
What is harlequin ichthyosis?
- Ichthyosis is a condition that causes widespread and persistent thick, dry, “fish-scale” skin.
- There are at least 20 different types of ichthyosis. Some types are inherited at birth and other types are acquired during adulthood.
- There’s no cure for ichthyosis, but a daily skincare routine usually keeps the symptoms mild and manageable.
- Most people with ichthyosis have inherited a particular faulty gene from their parent. The signs and symptoms of inherited ichthyosis appear at birth or within the first year of life.
- The faulty gene affects the rate at which the skin regenerates – either the shedding of old skin cells is too slow, or the skin cells reproduce at a much faster rate than they can shed old skin. Either way, this causes a build-up of rough, scaly skin
- Ichthyosis vulgaris is the most common type of inherited ichthyosis, affecting 1 in 250-1,000 people.
- Harlequin ichthyosis is extremely rare, but the scaling is severe and requires intensive care at birth.
- There’s no cure for ichthyosis, but moisturising and exfoliating the skin daily can help prevent dryness, scaling and the build-up of skin cells.
- People with severe ichthyosis may need to spend several hours a day caring for their skin.
- People with mild ichthyosis have a normal lifespan. However, the most severe inherited types can be life threatening.
Source: NHS Choices
"I was so shocked and saddened by this that I asked the midwife to take the baby out of my sight.
"My other children were born healthy without any deformity.
"That's why it took me sometime to absorb the shock."
The boy's father, Mohammed Imtiyaz added: "Maybe God has sent him as an exhibit."
It is not known how long the boy is expected to survive.
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