Rare skin disease leaves Wajir kids in pain, deforms bodies

At least 20 children in Northeastern, most of them in Wajir, are suffering a rare full body skin condition.

The disease identified as ichthyosis presents symptoms of excessively painful, dry and scaly skin.

Misky Bulle and Abshir Salat - both 10 years-old - from Bute subcounty in Wajir North have been referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment.

Misky was airlifted to Nairobi last week while Abshir was referred to the hospital on Monday. Four others were admitted to Wajir County Referral Hospital.

Salat is most affected; the disease has eaten into his bones, disabling and disfiguring him.

His uncle Maalim Gedi said he was born with the disease.

"For years the problem has grown from bad to worse," he said.

Gedi said they have been applying animal fats to Abshir's body to ease the pain but "all these did not help. The severe sunshine worsened his condition".

Many other children are said to be suffering from the disease that only came to the limelight after social media outcry via Twitter hash tag #SaveWajirKids.

On Monday, Kenyans on Twitter called for immediate action to save the children from the traumatising effects of the rare condition.

Issack Elmi, Nema chief researcher in charge of pollution, linked the infection to chemical and geological pollutants in the area.

Elmi said it is genetic but that factors such as toxic waste dumping in water or soil may trigger genes leading to such diseases.

"Trigger factors such as biochemicals dumped by oil exploring companies may be to blame," he said.

Elmi asked the Kenya Medical Research Institute and universities to conduct studies on toxic chemicals in the region.

He said counties, which are now the custodians of public health, should also invest in solutions for rare ailments.

Read: Cancer deaths blamed on toxic waste dumping in North Eastern

The Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types said the disease may have associated psychological symptoms due to the abnormal appearance.

The organisation runs US-based Skin First Foundation.

"In addition to the numerous medical complications like dehydration, infections, chronic blistering, overheating, and rapid-calorie loss, patients with ichthyosis are subjected to psychological issues," it said.

Patients are often ostracised and concerns of isolation, low self-esteem, and depression are common due to the appearance of their visible, chronically shedding skin.

Source