Mumbai:
Doctors at Mumbai's Cama & Albless hospital were in for a surprise when a baby delivered by them was born without limbs - a rare condition known as Phocomelia.
The baby, who is yet to be named, is under observation at the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.
While the baby's mother, Haseena Begum (25) is not aware of her first born's condition, doctors were in a tizzy as Phocomelia cases are unheard of.
Gynaecologists performed a caesarean section on Begum. "It was surprising as the sonography had not revealed any abnormalities. The caesarean was done as it was a breech delivery (in which the baby would come out with legs first)," said a gynaecologist who operated on Begum.
Commenting on the case, gynaecologist Dr Ashok Anand, said, "Phocomelia is an extremely rare condition in which the baby is born without limbs. One of the triggers of this condition is the use of a drug called thalidomide which is used to stop vomiting during early pregnancy. The drug was banned across the world in the 1960s."
Doctors are suspecting the disease could be a result of genetic inheritance in Begum's case.
"The vital organs have not been harmed but a clinical examination has to be conducted just to be sure," said a senior doctor.
The baby, who is yet to be named, is under observation at the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.
While the baby's mother, Haseena Begum (25) is not aware of her first born's condition, doctors were in a tizzy as Phocomelia cases are unheard of.
Gynaecologists performed a caesarean section on Begum. "It was surprising as the sonography had not revealed any abnormalities. The caesarean was done as it was a breech delivery (in which the baby would come out with legs first)," said a gynaecologist who operated on Begum.
Commenting on the case, gynaecologist Dr Ashok Anand, said, "Phocomelia is an extremely rare condition in which the baby is born without limbs. One of the triggers of this condition is the use of a drug called thalidomide which is used to stop vomiting during early pregnancy. The drug was banned across the world in the 1960s."
Doctors are suspecting the disease could be a result of genetic inheritance in Begum's case.
"The vital organs have not been harmed but a clinical examination has to be conducted just to be sure," said a senior doctor.
