This article will talk about diseases that can change a person’s appearance beyond recognition, and not for the better.
In the field of medicine, humanity has achieved considerable results, having studied many different diseases that previously seemed incurable. But there are still many “blank spots” that remain a mystery. More and more often these days we hear about new diseases that frighten us and evoke a feeling of compassion for those people who suffer from them. After all, looking at them, you understand how cruel fate can be.
1. “Stone Man” Syndrome
This congenital hereditary pathology is also known as Munheimer's disease. It occurs due to a mutation in one of the genes and, fortunately, is one of the rarest diseases in the world. The disease is also called “disease of the second skeleton”, because due to inflammatory processes active ossification of matter occurs in muscles, ligaments and tissues. To date, 800 cases of this disease have been registered in the world, and no cases have been found yet. effective treatment. To alleviate the plight of patients, only painkillers are used. It should be noted that in 2006, scientists were able to discover exactly what genetic deviation leads to the formation of a “second skeleton,” which means there is hope that this disease can be overcome.
It would seem that this disease, known to us from ancient books, has sunk into oblivion. But even today, entire settlements of lepers exist in remote corners of the planet. This terrible disease disfigures a person, sometimes depriving him of parts of his face, fingers and toes. And all because chronic granulomatosis or leprosy ( medical name leprosy) first destroys skin tissue and then cartilage. In the process of such rotting of the face and limbs, other bacteria join. They “eat” your fingers.
Thanks to the vaccine, this disease almost never occurs today. But just in 1977, smallpox “walked” the Earth, striking people with severe fever with headaches and vomiting. As soon as my health seemed to improve, the worst happened: my body became covered with a scaly crust, and my eyes stopped seeing. Forever.
4. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
This disease belongs to the group of hereditary systemic diseases connective tissue. It can pose a mortal danger, but in more mild form causes almost no trouble. However, when you meet a person with severely bending joints, it is, to say the least, surprising. In addition, such patients have very smooth and highly damaged skin, which causes the formation of multiple scars. The joints are poorly attached to the bones, so people are prone to frequent dislocations and sprains. Agree, it’s scary to live in constant fear of dislocating, stretching, or, even worse, tearing something.
5. Rhinophyma
This is a benign inflammation of the skin of the nose, most often the wings, which deforms it and disfigures a person’s appearance. Rhinophyma accompanies increased level sebum secretion, which leads to clogged pores and causes bad smell. People exposed to frequent temperature changes are more likely to suffer from this disease. Hypertrophied acne appears on the nose, towering above healthy skin. The skin may remain a normal color or have a bright lilac-red-violet color. This illness causes not only physical but also mental discomfort. It is difficult for a person to communicate with people and generally be in society.
6. Verruciform epidermodysplasia
This one, fortunately, is very rare disease has a scientific name - epidermodysplasia verruciformis. In fact, everything looks like a living illustration for a horror movie. The disease causes the formation of hard, “tree-like” and growing warts on the human body. The most famous “tree man” in history, Dede Kosvara, died in January 2016. In addition, two more cases of this disease were recorded. Not long ago, three members of a family from Bangladesh showed symptoms of this terrible disease.
7. Necrotizing fasciitis
This disease can easily be considered the most terrifying. It should immediately be noted that this is extremely rare, although clinical picture The disease has been known since 1871. According to some sources, the mortality rate from necrotizing fasciitis is 75%. This disease is called “flesh-eating” because of its rapid development. An infection that has entered the body destroys tissue, and this process can only be stopped by amputating the affected area.
8. Progeria
This is one of the rarest genetic diseases. It can appear in childhood or adulthood, but in both cases it is associated with a gene mutation. Progeria is a disease premature aging when 13 summer child looks like an 80 year old man. Medical experts around the world say that once the disease is diagnosed, people live on average only 13 years. No more than 80 cases of progeria have been recorded in the world, and scientists currently say that this disease can be cured. But how many of those with progeria will be able to live to see a happy moment is not yet known.
9. "Werewolf Syndrome"
This disease has a completely scientific name - hypertrichosis, which means excessive hair growth in certain places on the body. Hair grows everywhere, even on the face. Moreover, the intensity of hair growth and length in different parts of the body can be different. The syndrome became famous in the 19th century, thanks to the performances in the circus of artist Julia Pastrana, who showed a beard on her face and body hair.
10. Elephantiasis
11. Blue skin syndrome
The scientific name of this very rare and unusual disease is difficult to even pronounce: acanthokeratoderma. People with this diagnosis have blue or plum-colored skin. This disease is considered hereditary and very rare. In the last century, a whole family of “blue people” lived in the American state of Kentucky. They were called Blue Fugates. It should be noted that in addition to this distinctive feature, nothing else indicated any other physical or psychical deviations. Most of this family lived over 80 years. Another unique case occurred with Valery Vershinin from Kazan. His skin acquired an intense blue tint after treating a common runny nose with drops containing silver. But this phenomenon even benefited him. Over the next 30 years, he never got sick. He was even called the “silver man.”
12. Porphyria
Scientists believe that it was this disease that gave rise to legends and myths about vampires. Porphyria, because of its unusual and unpleasant symptoms, is commonly called “vampire syndrome.” The skin of such patients bubbles and “boils” upon contact with sun rays. In addition, their gums dry out, exposing their teeth, which become fang-like. The causes of actormal dysplasia (medical name) are still not well understood. Many scientists are inclined to believe that in most cases it occurs when a child is conceived through incest.
13. Blaschko lines
The disease is characterized by the appearance of unusual stripes throughout the body. It was first discovered in 1901. It is believed that this genetic disease and is transmitted hereditarily. Apart from the appearance of visible asymmetrical stripes along the body, no other significant symptoms were identified. However, these ugly stripes significantly spoil the life of their owners.
14. "Tears of Blood"
Doctors at a clinic in the American state of Tennessee experienced a real shock when 15-year-old teenager Calvin Inman approached them with the problem of “bloody tears.” It soon became clear that the cause of this terrifying phenomenon was hemolacria, a disease associated with changes in hormonal levels. The symptoms of this disease were first described in the 16th century by the Italian physician Antonio Brassavola. The disease causes panic, but is not life-threatening. Hemolacria usually disappears on its own after complete physical maturation.
Epidermodysplasia verruciformis, or tree-man disease, is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder that affects the skin and increases the risk of cancer. This is caused by an abnormal susceptibility to HPV (human papillomavirus) which ultimately leads to excessive growth scaly macules and papules, especially on the arms and legs. HPV types HPV 5 and 8 are most often associated with tree-man disease. They can be found in 70% of the population, but are not active and do not cause symptoms. The disease affects people between one and 20 years of age, but can also appear in middle-aged people.
Dede Kosvara
Numerous blogs have published photographs of a Romanian man named Ion Toader, who was diagnosed with Tree Man Disease in March 2007. These photographs gained worldwide popularity. Toader had surgery in 2013, but was not completely cured and symptoms reappeared. Toader's mug shots became a hot topic on the internet for a while, but his fame is in no way comparable to that of Dede Kosvar.
Dede Koswara, an Indonesian by nationality, became widely known to the world after the TV show “My terrible story"with a video report about him. His mysterious case made the topic “people tree disease” super popular in November 2007.
He raised his two children in poverty, resigned to the fact that there was no cure for his illness until August 2008, when he underwent surgery. He had six kilograms of warts removed from his body. The operation included three stages: the first step was to remove the massive horns and thick carpet of warts on the hands, next step was to remove small warts on his torso, head and legs, and the final step was to cover his arms with grafted skin.
Discovery Channel and TLC filmed the surgery that removed 95% of his warts, but unfortunately they reappeared. Doctors believed he would need at least two surgeries a year to make his condition somewhat manageable. According to the Jakarta Post, Dede went for another operation using new surgical procedures in 2011, which again proved to be a temporary solution to the problem as the warts reappeared. He has already undergone three major surgeries. Dede also started using alternative medicine. Two Japanese doctors treated him with rare plant powders in 2010. But his condition still remained deplorable.
Life of Dede Kosvar
Sometimes life is much stranger than fairy tales. In a small Indonesian fishing village in 1974, a simple guy, Dede Koswara, was born. At birth, no abnormalities were noticed. A healthy and beautiful baby only made his parents happy. From early childhood he went to the ocean to fish with a fishing rod. Everything seemed to be going well, but at the age of fifteen, Dede Kosvara injured himself on a tree in the forest. Warts began to grow on my body and grew larger and larger. Every year a new five-centimeter layer grew. Dede cut them off, but they appeared again. The formations were especially large on the boy’s limbs, feet and hands.
Dede got married and had children, but at the age of 25 he approached the age of 25 with disappointing results: doctors could not do anything. He could no longer hold a fishing rod and go fishing. He was in no way capable of working in such a state, so his wife left him. During this difficult time, this man’s only income was showing his body in the circus. The villagers called him names and said he was cursed. He also could not serve himself; he needed an assistant, otherwise he could die from simple hunger.
Dr. Anthony Gaspari Worldwide popularity
But one day, hope dawned in the life of Dede Kosvar, the period of black streaks ended, and light came. A film crew arrived in their Indonesian village and brought with them the luminary of world dermatology, Dr. Anthony Gaspari from the American University of Maryland. An American dermatologist confirmed after a series of tests what was already known - Dede has a skin disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). This strange disease was caused by the fact that Dede’s immunity was damaged, which led to the growth of the so-called “ cutaneous horns", resembling woody growths. This phenomenon can only occur in 200 people on the planet, Indonesian scientists said.
Gaspari suggested treating Dede with synthetic vitamin A, since two previous surgeries performed in Indonesia had failed. In the future, Gaspari will also suggest chemotherapy. The Indonesian authorities, having learned about the filming of the film, were seriously offended and urgently hospitalized Dede, frightened by the hype around him. He was given a series surgical operations, during which it turned out that osteoporosis had joined the previously discovered skin tuberculosis and hepatitis. The latter destroyed and crushed his bones on his fingers, so complete removal terrible growths were impossible for the sake of preserving the fingers.
What is HPV?
HPV, human papillomavirus, are several viruses that lead to the formation of warts. Medical scientists have identified more than 100 types of papilloma viruses. Eighty of them threaten human health.
WHO states that 70% of the world's population are infected with HPV and are its carriers.
The virus does not make itself felt in the body, but the patient spreads it further. When the immune system breaks down, HPV becomes active stage, and its carrier becomes ill, because the virus penetrates the epithelial cells and causes them to grow. This is the cause of papillomas and warts. HPV penetrates into human body through cuts and wounds. More often this happens in childhood, as in the case of Dede Koswar.
So what is the tree-man disease - a disease or a mutation? Scientists have concluded that this is the sum of the effect of the virus on skin cells and a rare defect of the immune system that is inherited.
Treatment in America
Doctors from the United States decided that Dede Kosvar's disease was incurable. After all, scientists cannot modify genes yet. But there is a chance of him returning to full life, performing a series of surgical operations on him. In the United States of America, Dede had more than six kilograms of skin growths removed over nine months. At the same time, he was given chemotherapy so that there would be no more relapses of this disease, which obviously does not harm anyone.
But Dede took chemotherapy for a relatively short time - his hepatitis-affected liver made itself known. She could no longer cope with her functions, and treatment had to be canceled. In addition, dermatologist Anthony Gaspari had irresolvable disagreements with Indonesian medical officials.
The efforts of American doctors were not in vain. Arriving in his native country, Dede Kosvara independently used both cutlery and cell phone. This very popular and very modest man admitted to journalists that he dreams of a final recovery, a return to normal life, and even marriage to one of the fans who appeared.
Worldwide fame
After the release of a documentary about the “tree man” on TV screens, Grandfather gained worldwide fame. Thousands of sympathizers wrote to him, because many were touched by his sad story. Many sent him money for treatment and life. Thanks to them, he was able to buy a plot of land and a car for himself. He dreamed of working on the plot himself - growing rice and feeding his children.
But the illness did not leave the unfortunate Dede Kosvar. Relapses occurred again and again. The growths again began to cover his entire body, interfering with normal life. In addition, precious time was lost - Indonesian doctors did not recognize the causes of this disease and were unable to prescribe correct treatment initially. Thus, Dede Kosvara continued to suffer.
Is a full recovery possible?
The doctors, however, did not lose hope and assumed that Dede could be helped by performing a transplant bone marrow. But such an operation is prohibited in Indonesia, and government officials prohibited him from traveling abroad. Why? Yes, because the tree man was of great interest for scientific research. How could the Indonesian government single-handedly release such a valuable object from the country? Indonesian doctors themselves wanted to study it. But his health became worse and worse every year. Doctors said that Dede Koswara had resigned himself to the inevitable and lost all hope of recovery. He looked forward to death as a release from his suffering.
Death of Dede Kosvar
Single and never remarried, Dede Koswara died at Hassan Sadikin Hospital in Badung, Indonesia, on the morning of January 30, 2016, after a long battle with illness. Kosvara said: “ What I really want first of all is to find a job and then, one day, who knows, I might meet a girl and get married?" The severity of his condition has made him internationally famous and he has been the subject of several feature-length documentaries highlighting his plight.
Although he was treated, the growths continued to return, requiring two surgeries a year to maintain the status quo. There was no talk of improvements anymore. Three months before his death, he was sent to the hospital.
The cause of death was multiple complications after surgical operations, as well as hepatitis and gastrointestinal problems. The Tree Man dreamed that someday scientists would find a cure for his unusual illness and he will become healthy and full of strength. But, unfortunately, there was no happy ending.
« He left us. He must have been strong enough to withstand all the insults he suffered over the years" said his doctor. According to his sister, he was unable to feed himself or speak because he was too weak. She added that Dede avoided his family until his death - and, according to those who communicated with him, he no longer hoped to recover.
But one of the nurses said: “ Dede wanted to recover despite his illness. He dealt with his illness even if people despised him, as if someone had cursed him. He was bored, resting in bed in the hospital, and often smoked to pass the time. He wanted to return to be a carpenter and start a business from home».
Is it contagious?
It is important to understand that although the “tree man” in the photographs looks terrifying and shocking, the disease is not contagious. Doctors examined these patients and came to the conclusion that the disease is not transmitted through contact, from one person to another. You can touch them without fear.
Symptoms of the tree man disease
There are some specific symptoms tree-man diseases, including the following:
- thick visible warts on various parts the patient's body;
- the skin is thicker and the size of the limbs increases over time;
- arms and legs take the shape of tree branches - they turn yellow-brown and increase in volume by about a meter.
Even if all symptoms indicate that it is tree-man disease, doctors may do blood tests and take skin samples to confirm the presence of HPV. Genetic testing also helps confirm the disease.
Treatment of “man-tree” disease is quite complex and includes A complex approach. It is important to take steps to reduce your risk of developing cancer and also use techniques to improve your appearance patient. Patients should wear protective clothing because ultraviolet light can worsen the condition. They have to use oral medications, as well as creams such as Imiquimod to limit the growth of abnormal skin cells.
Various surgical procedures include freezing the warts with liquid nitrogen. Sometimes warts are burned with electric heaters and cut out using a scalpel. Despite all these approaches, some patients develop skin cancer and require additional health care. Sometimes surgeons remove these cancerous warts and replace the affected areas with grafts from unaffected areas of the body. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy used when cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
Other tree people
Dede's illness was absolutely incredible, but not the only one. In 2009, the Discovery Channel aired another episode of the disease, but this time it was about a different Indonesian. The title of the film was "Tree Man Meets Another Tree Man." He was from another area of Indonesia and received the same treatment as Dede Koswara. Fortunately, the treatment was successful for him.
After Kosvar's death means mass media Another case of man-tree disease has been reported. Thus, people trees have been replenished with one more member. He was 26-year-old Bangladeshi resident Abul Bajandar. He was found to have the same wooden growths on his legs as Kosvar. He follows the beaten path of Dede and is also preparing for an operation that can alleviate his suffering and get rid of skin growths on his feet and hands that appeared about ten years ago.
Abul, like Kosvara, fell ill with warty dysplasia in adolescence, he was 16 years old. Just like Dede first developed warts on his hands and feet. But they did not bother the young man in any way, and he did not attach any importance to them, continuing to go about his business. The disease gradually progressed and brought him to a state where he could no longer not only work as a driver, but also serve himself independently. Like Koswar, Bajandar was nicknamed the “tree man.”
But all the suffering young man may stop after the operation that doctors will perform on him in a Bangladesh hospital, as they reported to the media. To date, no cure for warty epidermal dysplasia has been found, and surgeons limit themselves only to operations that free the patient’s arms and legs. But every case of the appearance of this disease brings doctors closer to solving this mystery.
A 37-year-old resident of the island of Java, Dede Koswara, was taken to an Indonesian hospital due to a painful illness manifested in the pathological growth of warts. The disease was especially severe on Dede’s limbs. It has been tormenting a man for 20 years, but a way to finally overcome the attack has not yet been invented.
X-rays quickly determined that Kosvara's immune deficiency had left his body unable to fight the warts. In addition, the Indonesian suffered from a deadly tuberculosis bacillus that took over his body.
Dr Rahmat Dinata, leader of the team of doctors who took on Dede's case at a hospital in Bandung, West Java, said: "After five years, the patient was dead. He had a lot of active pathogenic bacteria in his lungs. If only he did not seek help and continued to lead a similar lifestyle, with bad food and in such meager quantities, his disease would have spread faster.”
However, intensive treatment allowed Kosvara to overcome the infection. Dr Dinata says: "After three months of treatment, we took an x-ray to check. His lungs were clear."
Dede's sad story began when he was 15 years old. As a result of the accident, he cut his knee. A small wart appeared on his shin, followed by others that began to appear uncontrollably. “Warts started growing everywhere,” Kosvara said.
Eventually, Kosvara, entering adulthood, was no longer able to work in construction. His wife, who had been patient for ten years, left Dede because he could not feed her and their two children together. The Indonesian could not fish, he could not find a new activity at all until he agreed to show himself to others in the circus arena.
The strange case of Dede, who was nicknamed the Tree Man, became famous around the world when the Discovery Channel told the Indonesian man's story in an episode of its documentary series "My Shocking Story" in 2007.
An American dermatologist expert, Dr. Anthony Gaspari, was involved in the filming, who was supposed to deal with Kosvara’s problem. This specialist, representing the University of Maryland, contacted the team of doctors who helped Dede in Bandung.
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It was Gaspari who came to the conclusion that Kosvara's terrible attack was caused by the human papillomavirus, a fairly common infection that usually leads to the growth of just a few warts.
Due to an extremely rare immunodeficiency that left Dede's body virtually defenseless, the virus "took control of the cellular machinery of his skin cells." The body began to produce great amount a substance that turns into tree-like growths known as "skin horn".
Dr. Dinata made it clear that Kosvara's immunodeficiency is so severe that it would be impossible to become infected with any infectious disease for Kosvara it couldn't be easier. Dinata says, "He looks like an HIV patient, but he is HIV negative. Because his immune system is so weak, other infections can easily enter his body. We have to be extra careful if we have the flu... ".
During surgery to remove the growths, most of the tumors were removed from Dede's body, including about 1.8 kg of wart-like tissue from his legs alone. His hands are still massive lumps, but now, for the first time in more than ten years, he can do something with them.
Kosvara enjoys solving Sudoku puzzles. It may take him several days to solve just one puzzle, but this has nothing to do with the level of difficulty of the puzzle. The remaining growths on his hands prevent Dede from using a pen skillfully.
An Indonesian says: “If all the growths are a thing of the past, I want to go back to work. If I had initial capital, I would open my own small business in my village, where I would sell everything I could."
When the man was asked if he had a desire to find his love again and live in marriage, he answered with a smile on his face: “Yes, I would like to get married again.”
There are no limits to the imagination of artists and directors: in art you can find many bizarre images. Catwoman, Spider-Man, children from the forest of George R.R. Martin's saga However, sometimes reality is much more impressive than fiction. In a distant Indonesian village there lived a tree man, who got his nickname for strange growths on his skin that resembled branches covered with thick bark. And the story of this man amazes the imagination no less than popular science fiction works. What is this terrible disease? Tree Man is one of the most mysterious patients in the history of medicine, and about him we'll talk In this article.
Dede Kosvara: the man who turned into a tree
An Indonesian who became famous throughout the world thanks to his rare disease, name was Dede Kosvara. His body was covered with frightening growths reminiscent of tree bark. These tumors grew at an astonishing rate of up to five centimeters per year. Grandfather's story began when he was only 10 years old. One day, while walking in the forest, the boy severely injured his knee: a seemingly ordinary, unremarkable injury that could be forgotten. But, unfortunately, after this incident, frightening new growths appeared on Grandfather’s body. The Indonesian's hands and feet were especially badly affected. Nobody could win terrible disease: tree-man until the age of 25 could no longer go fishing and provide for the life of his family. The wife left Grandfather, taking two children. The only way for the unfortunate man to earn food was a humiliating demonstration of his body in the circus arena
World fame
In 2007, the Discovery Channel made a documentary about Grandfather's unique case. The story of the tree man amazed American doctors: Dr. Gaspari from the University of Maryland decided to study this medical incident. The scientist discovered that Dede's disease is caused by the human papillomavirus. Dr. Gaspari's patient had a rare mutation that prevents immune system stop the spread of the virus. It is for this reason that huge tree-like growths began to form on the body. A similar condition in medicine is called Lewandowski-Lutz epidermodysplasia. Ded Kosvari's diseases are one of the rarest in the world: a similar defect has been registered in only two hundred people.
What is papilloma virus?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that cause the appearance of warts and papillomas. More than 100 types of papillomaviruses have been identified, of which 80 can infect humans. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, about 70% of the world's population are carriers of HPV. At the same time, quite often the virus does not manifest itself in any way, and the person is its distributor. HPV can be activated if the carrier’s immunity is weakened for some reason. In this case, the virus penetrates into epithelial cells, causing them to grow. This manifests itself in the appearance of warts and papillomas. The virus enters the body through wounds and cuts, usually in childhood. Answering the question of what a tree man is - a disease or a mutation, doctors came to a clear decision: this is a combination of the effect of HPV on skin cells and a rare immune defect that is inherited.
Treatment
American doctors came to the conclusion that it is impossible to completely cure the tree-man disease, because it is not possible to change Grandfather’s genes. However, there was a chance to return the Indonesian to normal life through a series of surgical operations. Deda went to America, where over nine months about six kilograms of tumors were removed from him. At the same time, quite expensive therapy was carried out, the purpose of which was to strengthen the patient’s immunity and suppress the spread of the human papillomavirus. However, after some time, chemotherapy had to be stopped: the patient’s liver could not cope with the rather aggressive drugs. In addition, the treatment was stopped early due to the fact that Dr. Gaspari had numerous conflicts with Indonesian officials. The efforts of the doctors brought results: after returning from America, Deda could use his hands, eat on his own and even use mobile phone. In numerous interviews, Kosvara said that he dreams of returning to a normal life, working and even starting a family.
World famous
After the film about the tree man was seen by the audience, Deda gained worldwide fame. Many were interested in how the tree man lived, and some were so moved by his story that they sent the man money. Thanks to this financial assistance Deda was able to fulfill his dream and buy a plot of land and a car. However, the Indonesian had a long road to a normal life, because his condition was quite serious: the warts continued to grow, and besides, doctors in Indonesia could not give him the correct diagnosis for a very long time, which means that invaluable time was lost. The “tree-man” disease continued to progress
Or is treatment possible?
Doctors believed that Grandfather’s condition could be significantly improved by a bone marrow transplant: unfortunately, this operation is impossible in Indonesia, and the government prevented Grandfather from traveling abroad. For what reasons? It’s all very simple: officials were afraid that such a “valuable” patient could be used by the Americans as a research object. After all, the tree man, whose disease is quite rare, could be of great interest to science, which means he should remain in his homeland.
Alas, Grandfather’s story does not have a happy ending. On January 30, 2016, the tree man, whose disease continued to progress, passed away in an Indonesian hospital. His tumors continued to grow. Grandpa had to have two surgeries a year to keep the growths from interfering with his life. However, all efforts were in vain. The Indonesian doctors who tried to save Grandfather admitted in an interview that the man, who had bark and tree branches instead of skin, had come to terms with his illness and its inevitable consequence, tired of the endless operations and constant insults that accompanied him throughout most of his life. According to the unfortunate man's sister, last years he was not able to feed himself and did not even speak because he was too weak.
What caused the death of the tree man?
The cause of Koswari's death was numerous complications from surgical operations, including hepatitis and problems with gastrointestinal tract. Grandfather dreamed that someday a cure for this terrible disease would be found. Paradoxically, the tree man wanted to become a carpenter. Alas, Ded Kosvari’s dreams were not destined to come true: the doctors were unable to defeat terrible disease. At the time of his death, the tree man was only 42 years old.
14.04.2008 00:06
An Indonesian "tree man", whose body is covered in root-like growths, had two major surgeries to remove tissue growing on his hands and feet... He was finally able to see his fingers and became addicted to crossword puzzles after being able to hold pen... And after two more operations, during which doctors must graft intact skin onto his body, the “tree man” hopes to improve his personal life...
A 37-year-old fisherman named Dede injured his knee as a teenager. After this, wart-like “roots” began to grow from his arms and legs. Over time, the growths spread throughout his body, and he soon became unable to perform even daily household chores.
Having lost his job and abandoned by his wife, Dede raised his two children, who have now reached adolescence, in poverty, resigned to the fact that local doctors cannot help him in any way. To make ends meet, he even joined a local “panopticon” that showcased victims of specific diseases.
Dede's problem was that he had a rare genetic disorder that prevented his immune system from stopping the warts from growing. Therefore, the virus was able to “hijack the cellular machinery of his skin cells,” instructing them to produce large amounts of the horny substance they were made of. Dede was also found to have a low white blood cell count, which initially led the doctor to believe that the Indonesian had AIDS. But tests showed that this is not so.
