Bangalore: Sangli sisters hope city will rid them of ‘hairy’ problem

Bangalore Mirror

Bangalore, 13 August 2011:  The three siblings suffer from the rare Werewolf Syndrome — just five cases have been reported in India. There is no known treatment, but a team of specialists will try to cure the ‘incurable’ at Sparsh Hospital.

 

These three sisters from Sangli are respectable young women. They dress in the same fashion as other girls of their age do, have healthy appetites and chip in with household chores. There’s only one thing odd with them and it’s immediately apparent — their faces are covered in an abundance of hair.

 

Savitha (22), Monisha (18) and Savitri (14) suffer from hypertricosis universalis or the Werewolf Syndrome. People afflicted by this rare condition sprout thick growths of hair on their face and bodies. Only 300 cases of the disease have been reported worldwide and there are only five known cases, including the three Sangli sisters, in the country. Because of their rare condition, the sisters are outcasts in their village and live secluded and lonely lives. 

However, the three siblings now have a glimmer of hope. Facilitated by New Life Karnataka, an NGO, they will be treated by a team of specialists at the Sparsh Hospital. Although there is no known cure for the condition, doctors are hopeful of finding a breakthrough. 

 

“The details for their treatment in Bangalore are being worked out,” said Mansoor Chetlu, coordinator, New Life, Bangalore Chapter. “These cases are a challenge to the medical fraternity. We hope they find a cure.” 

 

The three sisters from Sangli, a village near the Maharashtra border, are among seven children — all girls— born to Sambhoji Raut and Anitha Sambhoji. While the other four siblings are normal, these three have inherited the disorder from their deceased father, who also had the condition. Typical of the condition, the three have thick growths of hair on their faces and have even animal-like features, brought on by the disease. The three do not venture out of their homes for fear of being attacked by others in the village.

 

Sparsh Hospital had made a name for itself in the area of treating rare cases when doctors successfully operated on Lakshmi Tatma, a child from Bihar born with eight limbs. Sparsh and New Life is lining up a team of doctors from the US and Germany to help find a cure for the condition. 

“The doctors hope to do the best they can,” said Chetlu. “There is only one expert in the city. Two doctors are doing research abroad, one in the US and the other in Germany. We are bringing all of them together to help find a cure.”

The Raut family are hopeful, but admit that they cannot afford the treatment and are relying solely on the NGO. With the two eldest daughters married, Anitha works as a daily wage labourer. “We find it difficult to make ends meet,” said Anitha. “But I welcome any move which will help my children lead a normal life.”

Savitha is hopeful too. 

 

“We suffer immensely as we have to live secluded lives. We cannot go around freely like other girls do. My sisters too are badly in need of treatment,” she said. 

 

One of the doctors, who will treat the sisters, said: “This is a genetic problem. There is a lot of research being done on the subject. It’s a very rare condition and a big challenge for us. These cases will provide valuable insight into the disease.”