News / International
Three Indian sisters suffering from a rare genetic disorder, werewolf syndrome
09 Feb 2012 at 05:27hrs | Views
In an incredible quirk of fate three sisters are afflicted by one of the rarest condition in the world, affecting just one in a billion.
The Sangli sisters are suffering from a rare genetic disorder known as werewolf syndrome â€" where they are covered from head to toe in thick hair.
Genetic: The girls stand in front of a picture of their father with their mother (front middle) and two of their other sisters who are unaffected by the disorder
Savita, 23, Monisha, 18, and 16-year-old Savitri Sangli, who live in a small village near Pune, inherited the hypertrichosis universalis disorder from their father.
Hypertrichosis universalis is a genetic mutation, in which cells that normally switch off hair growth in unusual areas, like the eyelids and forehead, are left switched on.
The girls have abnormal hair growth on their faces, affecting their eyebrows, nose and giving them appearance of having a beard.
The sisters use hair removal cream to keep their condition under control on a temporary basis.
The cost of a laser surgery is around Rs 3,50,000, but the family is not wealthy enough to afford the specialised treatment.
The girl's mother Anita Sambhaji Raut has six daughters in total with three of them having werewolf syndrome.
The condition was passed down by the girls' father, who Anita was forced to marry at the age of 12.
Eldest daughter Savita says that she only gets a job for 10 to 15 days, and as soon as her hair starts showing through employers ask her to leave.
Anita and her daughters are desperate to fund laser surgery that will help to finally remove the curse of excess hair and allow the girls to lead normal lives.
The Sangli sisters are suffering from a rare genetic disorder known as werewolf syndrome â€" where they are covered from head to toe in thick hair.
Genetic: The girls stand in front of a picture of their father with their mother (front middle) and two of their other sisters who are unaffected by the disorder
Savita, 23, Monisha, 18, and 16-year-old Savitri Sangli, who live in a small village near Pune, inherited the hypertrichosis universalis disorder from their father.
Hypertrichosis universalis is a genetic mutation, in which cells that normally switch off hair growth in unusual areas, like the eyelids and forehead, are left switched on.
The girls have abnormal hair growth on their faces, affecting their eyebrows, nose and giving them appearance of having a beard.
The sisters use hair removal cream to keep their condition under control on a temporary basis.
The cost of a laser surgery is around Rs 3,50,000, but the family is not wealthy enough to afford the specialised treatment.
The girl's mother Anita Sambhaji Raut has six daughters in total with three of them having werewolf syndrome.
The condition was passed down by the girls' father, who Anita was forced to marry at the age of 12.
Eldest daughter Savita says that she only gets a job for 10 to 15 days, and as soon as her hair starts showing through employers ask her to leave.
Anita and her daughters are desperate to fund laser surgery that will help to finally remove the curse of excess hair and allow the girls to lead normal lives.
Source - bhaskar
