Bangladesh treats first case of ‘tree girl’ syndrome

In this photograph taken on January 30, 2017, Bangladeshi patient Sahana Khatun, 10, poses for a photograph at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. -AFP

DHAKA: A young Bangladeshi girl with bark-like warts growing on her face could be the first female ever afflicted by so-called “tree man syndrome”, doctors studying the rare condition said Tuesday.

Ten-year-old Sahana Khatun has the tell-tale gnarled growths sprouting from her chin, ear and nose, but doctors at Dhaka’s Medical College Hospital are still conducting tests to establish if she has the unusual skin disorder.