Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
This seven-year-old girl has a rare condition that leaves her with fish-like scales on her face and body.
Zahide Akdag, 7, the daughter of Isa Akdag, 35, and Fadime Akdag, 35, living in the rural area of Guneydamlari in the district of Sarigol in the Turkish province of Manisa, was born with a condition called ichthyosis, also known as fish scale disease.
Ichthyosis is a skin condition that causes dead skin cells to accumulate as thick, dry rashes on the surface of the skin all over the sufferer’s body and face.
There are at least 20 different types of ichthyosis, some of which are inherited at birth and others can be acquired during adulthood.
Zahide, who was taken into intensive care immediately after being born, has lived the first seven years of her life fighting the condition.
The young girl has to use special lotions and creams all the time to prevent severe itching that would cause bleeding.
Her parents said they have visited many hospitals across the country to find proper treatment for their daughter, but so far they have not seen any results.
The girl’s mother Fadime Akdag said: “Doctors told us that there is no cure for this disease. We’ve travelled to a lot of places in Turkey and could not get help for my daughter. If there is a treatment in another country, my husband is willing to take my daughter there.
“We did not see any benefit from the lotions we used. Zahide cannot bear the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter. She uses eye drops at least six times a day.
“She can’t even play outside with her friends. I am watching my daughter get worse day by day. We want to find a cure for Zahide’s disease.”
The little girl said: “I feel as if my skin is burning, and I constantly itch. I want to be treated and get rid of this disease.”
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