A US teen has been diagnosed with rare condition, that has made her allergic to water, she cannot take shower or drink water because it feels acidic.
Abigail Beck, 15, from Tuscon was diagnosed with Aquagenic Urticaria last month after its symptoms started showing three years ago. The extremely rarest of rare condition is estimated to affect one in 200-million people. The condition causes rashes to breakout when the skin comes in contact with water.
Abigail said that when raindrops touch her skin, it feels like acid. She also mentioned that due to the condition, she has not had a glass of water for over a year now and survives on energy drinks and pomegranate juice.
The doctors have no other choice but to prescribe her re-hydration pills. In case the condition does not get any better in future, Abigail will be given regular IVs to get more fluids into her.
“My own tears cause a reaction where my face goes red and burns really badly. I cry like a normal person and it hurts. Tears are one of the worst parts of it because when you cry, your tears shouldn’t burn your skin. It runs my life but I don’t want it to. I throw up if I drink water, my chest hurts really bad and my hearts starts beating really fast”, said Abigail.
She added saying that that worst part about her condition is the absolutely little or no knowledge people have about it.
It is believed that this condition may be because of any particular substance present in water which triggers an immune response. Till date, fewer than 100 cases have been recorded worldwide.
Abigail said that there was a time when she was scared to talk about it, fearing that she would be called ‘crazy’ by everyone. After being ridiculed for a couple of years, Abigail now is no more shy to speak about it. She takes every possible opportunity to aware, inform and educate more and more people about her situation and this condition
Ms Kalinga