Father, son diagnosed with rare skin disease

Tajul Islam and his son Ruhul Amin of Rangpur with wart roots developing on their hands and feet -- a rare skin disease. The photo was taken on Friday. Photo: Mehedy Hasan

A father and his son in Rangpur have been found with wart roots developing on their hands and feet -- a rare skin disease similar to that of Abul Bajandar.

 Abul Bajandar, 26, is believed to be the world's fourth man suffering from a disease caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs), and is now undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after he was brought in from Khulna in late January.

The first case of the HPVs, also known as tree-man disease, was diagnosed in Romania and the second one in Indonesia in 2007. The last reported case also occurred in Indonesia in 2009.

Tajul Islam, 48, and his son Ruhul Amin, 10, of Abullapur-Kalsardara village in Rangpur's Pirganj seem to be the next victims of the disease.

Tajul said his father Afaz Munshi had told him that nails on his hands and feet began to grow at an accelerated rate when he was just two months' old.

He claimed that his father died of the same disease. His elder brother Baset Ali too had warts like things on his legs and doctors had cut off both of his legs a few days ago.

Gradually, Tajul's nails turned into something like roots of trees.

His youngest son Ruhul Amin was born with big nails both in his hands and feet. Ruhul's nails are also rapidly turning into things like roots of trees, he added.

Tajul said his wife Rubi Begum now takes care of them as he is not able to work.

The Daily Star had sent photos of Tajul and Ruhul to Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery of the DMCH, to get his views on the disease.

“They seem to have the tree-man disease. But, unless we practically see and diagnose, we can't be sure,” he said. He also suggested that the two are brought to Dhaka for diagnosis and treatment.

BEGGING FOR LIVELIHOOD

Tajul and Ruhul were compelled to beg for a living as they could not work.

“It's very hard to arrange meals twice a day,” he said.

He said he could not even arrange their treatment due to extreme poverty.

Tajul received free treatment at different hospitals but those could not help him get rid of the disease. Moreover, doctors suggested amputating his hands and legs.

“How would I have my hands and legs cut-off? Then I wouldn't be able to beg even.”

Due to severe pain, neither Tajul nor his son can sleep properly at night.

Tajul urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and wealthy people of the country to come forward for their treatment.