Teenage girl can’t cry, shower or drink water due to terrible illness

THE ESSENTIAL

  • Aquagenic urticaria affects more women than men.
  • Some medications or creams exist to reduce the pain, but their effects are temporary.

One in 200 million people is said to be affected by aquagenic urticaria. This rare disease is a form of hives that manifests itself by the appearance of red and itchy patches a few minutes after being in contact with water, regardless of its temperature. According to the newspaper Daily MailAbigail, a 15-year-old girl, would be suffering from this pathology and could no longer cry, shower or even drink water.

“It hurt a lot, it was like acid”

“It took a long time to be diagnosed, explains Abigail to the Daily Mail. When it rained, it hurt a lot, it was like acid. I thought it was normal”. The first symptoms of the aquagenic urticaria suffered by the teenager began three years ago, in 2019, when she was only thirteen years old. With the progression of the disease, these increased: “Today I’m crying like a normal person and it hurts, she expands. My face turns red and burns very strongly”.

According to the words of the young girl, she would not have had a glass of water for a whole year because of her illness. To stay hydrated, she says she consumes energy drinks and pomegranate juice, which contain a small amount of water. “I have to check the labels but everything in this world contains water.insists Abigail. I’m afraid no one will know what to do, including myself, if this ever gets out of hand.”

No medical solution

For the moment, no lasting solution has been offered to this young patient. Medical professionals have given him rehydration pills and may, if his condition does not improve, consider intravenous hydration, injecting the water directly into his blood.

“When I tell people I’m allergic to water, they think it’s absolutely ridiculous and many are shocked, explains the teenager. They always emphasize that our bodies are made of water.” The lack of medical response comes from the fact that this disease is very rare. Thus, doctors still do not know the cause of this pathology – no case presented a family history – as well as the treatments that could be effective.

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