SEE PHOTOS: DOCTORS SHOCKED AFTER BOY'S HANDS SWELL TO GIANT PROPORTIONS

Doctors Shocked After Boy's Hands Swell To
Giant Proportions
Meet an eight-year-old Indian boy whose hands
swelled to giant proportions and now weigh more
than 12 kilograms.
The boy is unable to carry out simple tasks,
including tying his own shoe laces, feeding himself
etc.
Young Kaleem suffers from an extremely rare
unknown condition, he is unable to carry out
simple tasks, including tying his own shoe laces,
after he was born with hands twice the size of an
average baby.

Kaleem's parents knew he was different at birth
but were as powerless to help and the
youngster's hands have now grown so large
they measure 33cm from the base of his palm to

the end of his middle finger.
The youngster's hands have now grown so large
they measure 33cm from the base of his palm to
the end of his middle finger.
Since his childhood Kaleem has been bullied and
shunned because others are �scared� of his
deformity. The boy does not go to school because
other kids have repeatedly beat him.

I find it difficult to put on my clothes, button
my shirt and pull up my pants.
But I don�t know if I want doctors to operate on
my hands. They would have to make me
unconscious and then they would cut me open.
I have no problem if they could do it without an
injection. A small operation would be okay.

Kaleem's parents, who earn just $25 a month,
have only just been able to take their son to a
local doctor for an assessment.
Kaleem is believed to suffer from either
lymphangioma or hamartoma � which are both
treatable. However, more testing is needed to
identify the disease.

Apart from the unsightly growths, Kaleem is in
good health � with properly functioning lungs and
heart.
But as his hands continue to grow it may put
increased pressure on his cardiovascular system,
potentially shortening his life.

As far as my knowledge goes, this is an
extremely rare condition.
I have not seen a case in medical journals or on
the internet where only the hands grew to such a
large size.
Until we have done proper genetic testing we will
not be able to say exactly what is causing this
deformity,� Dr Ratan, the director of the local
hospital, said.

Lymphangioma is a condition of the lymphatic
system which causes extreme inflammation
resulting in doughy masses forming in certain
parts of the body. Hamartoma is a benign type of
tumour where the body produces excess tissue.

As Kaleem�s s hands continue to grow it may
put increased pressure on his cardiovascular
system, potentially shortening his life.