A baby like mermaid born on Saturday in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh with its legs joined like the hind fins of a fish. The newborn died after 10 hours during treatment.
A 19-year-old woman from Khanapur village in Bhainsdehi block was admitted to the Community Health Center Bhainsdehi for childbirth, and a baby was born following a normal delivery, according to the district hospital staff nurse who cared for this infant. However, the newborn’s legs were linked, his health deteriorated, so he was sent to the district hospital at around nine in the morning. In the investigation, it was found that the child has major congenital malformation. This is a conjugated baby. Its lower end is completely stuck, due to which its sex determination was not happening. The organs below him were also mixed up.
Mermaid Syndrome or ‘Sirenomelia’
In medical terms, such condition is called Mermaid Syndrome or ‘Sirenomelia’ is an extremely rare congenital developmental disorder characterized by anomalies of the lower spine and the lower limbs. Affected infants are born with the partial or complete fusion of the legs.
Symptoms of Mermaid Syndrome:
Babies with mermaid syndrome can have a range of malformations, including:
- Genitourinary abnormalities: Issues with the urinary and reproductive systems.
- Gastrointestinal abnormalities: Malformations in the digestive tract.
- Pelvic and lumbosacral spine anomalies: Structural issues in the pelvic region and lower spine.
- Kidney development issues: Underdevelopment (agenesis) or complete absence of one or both kidneys.
- Lower limb deformities: Fusion of legs; infants may have one foot, no feet, or externally rotated feet.
- Sacrum and tailbone abnormalities: Partial or complete absence of these bones.
- Associated complications: Spina bifida, heart abnormalities, and imperforate anus.
These symptoms are often fatal during the neonatal period.
Although the precise prevalence of the mermaid syndrome (Sirenomelia) is unknown, but according to an estimate it affects 1 in every 60,000 to 100,000 births. Back in 1992, an epidemiological study, using eight monitoring systems from around the world found 97 babies with Sirenomelia among almost 10.1 million births.
The term “Sirenomelia,” which was inspired by Greek mythological sirens, was first used by scientists to describe mermaid condition in the 16th century.
How is Mermaid Syndrome Diagnosed?
Doctors will typically diagnose mermaid syndrome during pregnancy. To see the fetus, they perform an ultrasound. At that time, a doctor may identify the abnormalities associated with the syndrome, especially the fused lower limbs. Most babies with this condition are stillborn or die within a few days of birth, despite treatment.
Possible causes of Mermaid Syndrome:
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes mermaid syndrome, but they believe it’s likely a combination of environmental and genetic factors, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders. Some possible causes of the syndrome include:
- Environmental factors: Exposure to teratogens like cocaine, retinoic acid, heavy metals, cyclophosphamide, and certain antibiotics.
- Genetic factors
- Maternal factors: Maternal age less than 20 or over 40, maternal diabetes mellitus, amniotic bands.
Can it be prevented?
Because doctors don’t know exactly what causes mermaid syndrome, there are no certain ways to prevent the condition. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels, particularly during the first trimester, may help avoid the disease, according to doctors.
However, early routine ultrasound anomaly scans in pregnant women can help detect mermaid syndrome early, and some people may choose to terminate the pregnancy.
