A 16-year-old boy in India has reportedly spent the past five years almost constantly submerged in a small pool near his home in an attempt to relieve severe burning and pain affecting his skin.
The teenager, Iqbal Sheikh from Murshidabad, West Bengal, said remaining in water provides temporary relief, while staying out of it for too long causes the discomfort to intensify.
According to Oddity Central, Iqbal has sought help from several hospitals and also consulted traditional practitioners who claimed they could cure his condition.
Despite the numerous attempts to find an answer, doctors and practitioners have so far been unable to establish the exact cause of his illness or provide treatment that has significantly improved his condition.
As a result, Iqbal is said to spend both his days and nights in the small pool located close to his family home, with the water becoming an essential part of his daily routine.
The teenager has also reportedly wondered whether his unexplained condition could be linked to supernatural or mystical forces, adding another layer of uncertainty to his long-running struggle.
His unusual circumstances recently attracted renewed attention after a video showing him submerged up to his neck in the pool was widely shared online.
The footage sparked discussion among social media users, with many debating the nature of Iqbal’s condition and expressing concern over the teenager’s unusual circumstances.
Iqbal and his family are now expected to travel more than 2,000 kilometres to Mumbai, where they hope a team of doctors will finally be able to determine what is causing his symptoms and recommend suitable treatment.
For the teenager and his family, the journey represents another attempt to find answers after years of unsuccessful medical consultations and treatments.
