Shahana Khatun, a 10-year-old girl from Netrakona who is believed to be the first female to suffer from a condition known as ‘tree man syndrome’ underwent a ‘successful’ surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday.
A six-member team of doctors started the surgery at the burn unit of the hospital under Dr Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, DMCH, around 12:30pm and completed it at 2pm.
After the surgery, Dr Sen said Shahana's surgery was “successful”.
“We have removed warts from her face and she has been sent to a cabin. She will be kept under observation there. It's up to doctors to decide whether she needs another surgery or not," he added.
“Shahana has been diagnosed with early epidermodysplasia verruciformis, an extremely rare genetic skin disease," he said.
The girl was admitted to DMCH’s burn and plastic surgery
unit on January 29. A medical team was formed last Saturday, which decided to perform the surgery.
Shahajahan Mia, father of Shahana, told The Independent that he was grateful to the government for providing all facilities and bearing the expenses of her daughter’s surgery.
Earlier, the only other Bangladeshi known to have been diagnosed with ‘tree man’ disease is Abul Bajandar. He has made remarkable progress after undergoing 16 successful surgeries at DMCH.
AFP adds: Fewer than half a dozen people are known to have the disease across the world including a 27-year-old cycle rickshaw-puller, Abul Bajandar, the first recorded Bangladeshi to be suffering from the disease.
DMCH conducted at least 16 surgical procedures on Bajandar over the last year to remove huge growths each weighing five kilos (11 pounds).
His plight captured the sympathies of a nation, leading Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to promise him free treatment. Doctors said last month that for the first time in a decade, Bajandar had been able to touch his wife and daughter, and was almost ready to leave the ward.