This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/31/bangladesh-tree-man-abul-banjadar-surgery
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh's 'Tree Man' to undergo surgery | Bangladesh's 'Tree Man' to undergo surgery |
| (7 months later) | |
| A Bangladeshi father nicknamed Tree Man for massive bark-like warts on his hands and feet will finally have surgery to remove the growths that first began appearing 10 years ago, a hospital has said. | A Bangladeshi father nicknamed Tree Man for massive bark-like warts on his hands and feet will finally have surgery to remove the growths that first began appearing 10 years ago, a hospital has said. |
| Abul Bajandar, from the southern district of Khulna, was undergoing preparations for the surgery to cut out the growths weighing at least 5kg (11lb) that have smothered his hands and feet. | Abul Bajandar, from the southern district of Khulna, was undergoing preparations for the surgery to cut out the growths weighing at least 5kg (11lb) that have smothered his hands and feet. |
| “Initially, I thought that they’re harmless,” the 26-year-old told AFP at the Dhaka medical college hospital. “But slowly I lost all my ability to work. There are now dozens of two-to-three-inch roots in both my hands. And there are some small ones in my legs,” said Bajandar who was forced to quit working as a bicycle-puller. | “Initially, I thought that they’re harmless,” the 26-year-old told AFP at the Dhaka medical college hospital. “But slowly I lost all my ability to work. There are now dozens of two-to-three-inch roots in both my hands. And there are some small ones in my legs,” said Bajandar who was forced to quit working as a bicycle-puller. |
| A team of doctors will perform the operation at DMCH, Bangladesh’s largest state-run hospital, which has decided to waive the costs of the treatment. Tests are under way to ensure Bajandar’s warts can be removed surgically without damaging major nerves or causing any other health problems. | A team of doctors will perform the operation at DMCH, Bangladesh’s largest state-run hospital, which has decided to waive the costs of the treatment. Tests are under way to ensure Bajandar’s warts can be removed surgically without damaging major nerves or causing any other health problems. |
| The warts, which first started appearing when he was a teenager but began spreading rapidly four years ago, have been diagnosed as epidermodysplasia verruciformis, an extremely rare genetic skin disease that makes the person susceptible to skin growths. | The warts, which first started appearing when he was a teenager but began spreading rapidly four years ago, have been diagnosed as epidermodysplasia verruciformis, an extremely rare genetic skin disease that makes the person susceptible to skin growths. |
| “Popularly it is known as tree-man disease,” the DMCH director, Samanta Lal Sen, told AFP. “As far as we know there are three such cases in the world including Abul Bajandar. It is the first time we have found such a rare case in Bangladesh,” he said. | “Popularly it is known as tree-man disease,” the DMCH director, Samanta Lal Sen, told AFP. “As far as we know there are three such cases in the world including Abul Bajandar. It is the first time we have found such a rare case in Bangladesh,” he said. |
| An Indonesian villager with massive warts all over his body underwent a string of operations in 2008 to remove them. | An Indonesian villager with massive warts all over his body underwent a string of operations in 2008 to remove them. |
| Bajandar’s elder sister, Adhuri Bibi, said hundreds of people have visited their home in Khulna over the years to see him. “Even here at the hospital, hundreds have already gathered,” she told AFP. | Bajandar’s elder sister, Adhuri Bibi, said hundreds of people have visited their home in Khulna over the years to see him. “Even here at the hospital, hundreds have already gathered,” she told AFP. |
| Bajandar said he tried cutting the warts when they first appeared, but it was extremely painful. “After that I went to a village homeopath and herbal specialist. But those medicines only worsened my condition.” | Bajandar said he tried cutting the warts when they first appeared, but it was extremely painful. “After that I went to a village homeopath and herbal specialist. But those medicines only worsened my condition.” |
| He also consulted doctors in neighbouring India, but he and his family could not afford the cost of an operation there. | He also consulted doctors in neighbouring India, but he and his family could not afford the cost of an operation there. |