Harlequin baby loses battle with life

The Harlequin baby born at the Lata Mangeshkar Medical College two days ago lost its battle with life on Monday evening. The baby was born to a 23-year-old woman from Amravati with a severe congenital disorder. She weighed 1.8 kg at birth and had almost no skin on her body.

The infant was suffering from a rare condition called Harlequin Ichthyosis, in which the baby's skin was covered with hardened, cracked skin and her internal organs were also visible.

"The primary cause of death was sepsis in the body leading to cardiac and respiratory arrest. The baby was in a critical condition since birth and died at 4.30pm on Monday," said Dr Kajal Mitra, dean of the medical college and hospital.

The mother had not visited any doctor during her pregnancy. Large parts of the baby's body were without skin with her internal organs exposed. Her palms, fingers and toes are barely developed. In place of eyes, there were dark reddish swabs of skin and the nasal area had just two holes without any developed outer structure. The condition has been known since 1750 and was first reported in Charleston, South Carolina.