VIDEO: 29-year-old Brazil woman’s head triples in size due to rare life-threatening condition
- 20 May 2023
Gulf Today Report
A 29-year-old Brazilian woman suffers from a rare life-threatening condition that makes the head grow bigger as she ages.
Doctors said the rare condition kills up to half of those affected before they reach the age of three.
Graziely Alves Régis’ ordeal began before she was born, when she developed hydrocephalus, an abnormal buildup of fluid around the brain.
The resulting pressure can damage the internal tissues and distort the shape of the skull. It can also be fatal if the pressure damages parts of the brain responsible for maintaining the functioning of the heart and lungs.
Graziely was bedridden and unable to speak for years, and recently lost her sight due to the growth of her head.
Regis' mother said she first knew something was wrong when she was eight months pregnant, and experienced severe pain in her uterus.
An ultrasound scan from doctors revealed that her unborn daughter suffers from hydrocephalus, which affects about 1 in every 500 babies.
Doctors estimated that her baby girl would only live for three months, given the size of the case.
Upon her birth, her head tripled in size and was dubbed the "giant baby" due to the size of her head.
It is reported that if left untreated, hydrocephalus kills about 50% of children before the age of three, with only one in five surviving to adulthood.
The family is reliant on disability payments from the Brazilian government.
