A Chinese girl has lost the skin from her entire body within
a week of falling ill with a high fever. Blisters suddenly appeared all over 7
year old Ma Jie’s body before large areas of skin began to peel off.
Doctors said by the time she was admitted to the hospital in
Hangzhou, east China, all the skin on her body had already peeled off.
Hangzhou, east China, all the skin on her body had already peeled off.
She has been diagnosed with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a
genetic condition that causes the skin to become very fragile.
genetic condition that causes the skin to become very fragile.
Those who suffer from it are often called ‘butterfly
children’ because their skin is as delicate as butterfly wings.
children’ because their skin is as delicate as butterfly wings.
But doctors remain baffled by her condition because children
usually get symptoms of EB shortly after birth.
usually get symptoms of EB shortly after birth.
Ma Jie fell ill with a high fever on July 7 but quickly
recovered after taking medicine.
recovered after taking medicine.
However, blisters suddenly appeared in her mouth and on her
feet and palms the next day. The blisters soon spread to cover the rest of her
body.
feet and palms the next day. The blisters soon spread to cover the rest of her
body.
Her parents initially used toilet paper to try and protect
her skin but later decided to take her to hospital.
her skin but later decided to take her to hospital.
Ma Jie has been given a skin graft using 930 square inches
of pig skin, which covers approximately a third of her body.
of pig skin, which covers approximately a third of her body.
Doctors said the operation was successful but Ma Jie remains
in intensive care.
in intensive care.
However, the skin graft only provides temporary covering and
will be rejected by Ma Jie’s immune system within a week.
will be rejected by Ma Jie’s immune system within a week.
Doctors hope this will give enough time for some of the
wounds to heal.
wounds to heal.
Her parents have been warned that there could be further
complications, and that the medical fees of 140,000 Yuan (£14,500) could rise
even further.
complications, and that the medical fees of 140,000 Yuan (£14,500) could rise
even further.
Ma Jie was adopted at a young age when her biological
parents, who lived in a rural village and already had two children, felt that
they could not care for another daughter.
parents, who lived in a rural village and already had two children, felt that
they could not care for another daughter.
Her adoptive parents decided to call her biological parents
after they became worried by the severity of the condition.
after they became worried by the severity of the condition.
Both sets of parents have been anxiously waiting for updates
at the hospital.
at the hospital.
Yu Guanghong, Ma Jie’s adoptive mother, said: ‘Whatever
happens, this child came to my home and I have to save her no matter what.
happens, this child came to my home and I have to save her no matter what.
‘I thought of telling her about her biological parents when
she is eighteen. If she wants to go back to her biological parents, we won’t
object either. We just want her to be well.’
she is eighteen. If she wants to go back to her biological parents, we won’t
object either. We just want her to be well.’
EB is extremely rare, affecting just one in every 17,000
children.
children.
The majority of people who suffer from EB die before the age
of 30 because the condition can often lead to infections and means they are
more likely to get skin cancer.
of 30 because the condition can often lead to infections and means they are
more likely to get skin cancer.
There is no cure for EB, meaning that treatment can only
prevent blisters becoming infected.
prevent blisters becoming infected.
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