So for a short time I was obsessed with looking up all kinds of scary diseases and birth defects (with images disables of course) and I realised how messed up human genetics can truly be when something goes wrong.
The worst thing I have seen and one of the only birth defects I have seen images of would be the incredibly rare and deadly genetic birth defect called harlequin type ichtyosis.
Horrifying doesn't even begin to describe
just how unnatural everything about this defect looks and feels.
To begin with the general appearance
the skin is much thicker and contracted than normal and greyish instead of pink along with diamond shaped bloody cracks from top to toe thus giving the infant the appearance of wearing armour made out of it's own skin except it's harming instead of protecting.
Facial features such as the shape of the eyes are also incredibly deformed with things like a mouth that looks like that of a fish and eyes covered in blood that the infant cannot close because the eyelids are turned inwards which is the cause of the bleeding and the mouth cannot be closed either because the lips have been turned inwards like the eyelids.
The ears and nose are also commonly deformed or underdeveloped in some way or another and sometimes they are missing altogether.
Having unusually small arms and legs is also common with this defect.
Fingers and toes are also swollen
and they may also be fused together which can be fixed through surgery later on.
Many infants with this defect don't live very long mainly because the fatality risk is as high as 50% caused by the high risk of bacterial infection but also problems with the lungs being pressured too much and failing because of the thick layer of skin.
In fact It's so horrifying and sad that I can't even show it to you because
I actually ended up having nightmares about this that featured dozens if not hundreds of dead /stillborn children with this defect hanging dead from meathooks attached to a roof.
My reaction to seeing it was somewhat a mix of this
and
I have read about some pretty freaky ones as well such as cyclopia which is probably one of the saddest ones out there and also one of the deadliest defects.
In terms of what you have seen when it comes to unusual birth defects what is the most horrifying one you have seen while browsing the web or studying at medical school?.
The worst thing I have seen and one of the only birth defects I have seen images of would be the incredibly rare and deadly genetic birth defect called harlequin type ichtyosis.
Horrifying doesn't even begin to describe
just how unnatural everything about this defect looks and feels.
To begin with the general appearance
the skin is much thicker and contracted than normal and greyish instead of pink along with diamond shaped bloody cracks from top to toe thus giving the infant the appearance of wearing armour made out of it's own skin except it's harming instead of protecting.
Facial features such as the shape of the eyes are also incredibly deformed with things like a mouth that looks like that of a fish and eyes covered in blood that the infant cannot close because the eyelids are turned inwards which is the cause of the bleeding and the mouth cannot be closed either because the lips have been turned inwards like the eyelids.
The ears and nose are also commonly deformed or underdeveloped in some way or another and sometimes they are missing altogether.
Having unusually small arms and legs is also common with this defect.
Fingers and toes are also swollen
and they may also be fused together which can be fixed through surgery later on.
Many infants with this defect don't live very long mainly because the fatality risk is as high as 50% caused by the high risk of bacterial infection but also problems with the lungs being pressured too much and failing because of the thick layer of skin.
In fact It's so horrifying and sad that I can't even show it to you because
I actually ended up having nightmares about this that featured dozens if not hundreds of dead /stillborn children with this defect hanging dead from meathooks attached to a roof.
My reaction to seeing it was somewhat a mix of this
I have read about some pretty freaky ones as well such as cyclopia which is probably one of the saddest ones out there and also one of the deadliest defects.
In terms of what you have seen when it comes to unusual birth defects what is the most horrifying one you have seen while browsing the web or studying at medical school?.