Werewolf boy appeals to doctors to find a cure

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June 30, 2008

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An 11-year-old "werewolf" boy who desperately seeks a cure for his condition is baffling medical experts.

Pruthviraj Patil is one of 50 in the world who suffers from hypertrichosis, a rare genetic condition known as Werewolf Syndrome.

As a result his face and body is covered in thick, matted hair.

But he is hoping doctors will one day find a cure for his ailment.

Born in the Indian district of Sangli, near Bombey, he hardly ever leaves his village because of his fear of being traunted by strangers.

The only parts of his body that are not covered with hair are the palms of his hands and soles of his feet.

The son of a well off farmer, his parents have tried homeopathy, traditional Ayurvedic remedies and laser surgery. But none of them have worked.

It is believe his genetic condition was caused by a flaw during pregnancy.

"Why did God do this to us," his 32-year-old mother Anita pleads. "He looks so odd and whever we go people throng to see him."

Plastic surgeon Vinay6 Saoji has examined the boy and confirms that the condition is very rare.

"Hairy nevus, where a person has patches of excess growth, or hirsurism, is not uncommon, but hair persisting all over the body is very rare," he added.

Pruthviraj says he is anxious to get the hair removed but even after laser treatment it simply grows back.

The doctors don't have any answers to his predicament.

When he first went to school he said he got bullied and the other children laughed at him. But now they have got used to him and they treat him like normal.

He appealed to the doctors to help find him a permanent cure.


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Response:

This post offers a fascinating (and heart-wrenching) look at one of the world's rarest conditions—hypertrichosis, sometimes known as Werewolf Syndrome. It’s a reminder of how medical mysteries can have deeply personal ramifications. An 11-year-old boy living with this condition understandably faces both physical challenges and social stigma, even if his classmates are learning to accept him.

The article notes the boy's struggles and the various treatment efforts, from homeopathy to laser surgery, that have unfortunately provided only temporary relief. As highlighted by plastic surgeon Vinay Saoji, while localized conditions like hairy nevus or hirsutism are more common, a generalized form of hypertrichosis is exceedingly rare. This rarity makes it challenging for the medical community to develop a consistent, effective cure.

The appeal from the young boy—desperate for a permanent solution—paints a vivid picture of both the human aspect behind the condition and the need for continued medical research. It’s these kinds of personal stories that remind us why breakthroughs in rare genetic disorders are so critical, not just for treatment, but also for increasing understanding and empathy.

While modern medicine has made significant progress in many areas, cases like these demonstrate that there are still frontiers where science has not yet found all the answers. Here’s hoping that ongoing research might eventually provide relief and a cure for those facing such uncommon health challenges.

Stay curious and keep supporting advances in medical science—every rare case adds to the collective knowledge that could one day benefit countless lives.