Mermaid Syndrome Causes

We've all grown up watching tales of the Little Mermaid, and have been enamored by Ariel's antics and life under the sea. But it is hardly comforting to know that an innocent word like 'mermaid' can connote a deadly syndrome in human beings. Mermaid syndrome is a rare congenital disease that has an incidence of only 1 in 70,000 births (a pregnant woman is twenty times more likely to give birth to triplets in the United States). Mermaid syndrome, which is also known as sirenomelia, is a congenital deformity, wherein the baby is born with legs that are fused together, thus, giving the appearance of a mermaid's tail. This article further details the mermaid syndrome causes, facts and treatment. You can read more on rare diseases.

Mermaid Syndrome Facts

There isn't much of mermaid syndrome information available. This is mostly because, the condition is so rare, that there have been only two known survivors till date that were inflicted with this fatal condition. Initially, sirenomelia or mermaid syndrome, was often mistaken for caudal regression syndrome, an equally rare condition where there is abnormal fetal development of the lower spine.

There are certain grades of mermaid syndrome seen depending on the severity of the condition. In mild mermaid syndrome, the baby has two limbs that are fused into one, but this fusion is superficial, as it is only restricted to the skin. Thus, a simple surgery can help correct this deformity. However, in cases of severe mermaid syndrome, the extent of fusion can be very deep, with major structures being shared by the legs to such an extent that the two legs are not at all discernible. The crippling deformity manifests itself as a single, shapeless ill formed mass, with only two bones present in the entire limb. Read more on mermaid syndrome facts.

Mermaid Syndrome Causes

Although there hasn't been much of a study done to pin-point the exact cause of sirenomelia, there are a few conditions that have been implicated as mermaid syndrome causes. These are given below:

• Any kind of major illness suffered by the expecting mother or the fetus during pregnancy
• Any kind of physical or mental stress on the expecting mother
• Some doctors even blame excessive exposure to radiation as one of the most likely mermaid syndrome causes. They claim that excessive radiation could lead to genetic mutational changes, which could cause fusion of the legs of the developing fetus
• Inherited genetic disorders, either due to genes from the father or the mother
• Inadequate prenatal care by the expecting mother

Mermaid Syndrome Treatment

Unfortunately, besides surgery, there is no other treatment option for infants inflicted by mermaid syndrome. Sometimes, as in cases of severe mermaid syndrome, the legs are not fused superficially, but in fact share important structures and blood vessels. This makes surgery a very difficult, and near impossible alternative. In such cases, the child will most probably not survive a surgery, and even if miraculously it does make it through, he or she will terribly cripple for life. Till date, there has been no successful instance of severe mermaid syndrome survivors. Tiffany Yorks is till date the oldest surviving sirenomelia baby, after a spate of multiple, successful surgeries. Another mermaid syndrome survivor is Milagros Cerron, who had a long and successful surgery, wherein doctors managed to separate the fused legs of the baby girl.

So this was a comprehensive overview of mermaid syndrome causes and facts. As rare as this condition may be, it is still heart wrenching to hear of such cases. So let us end with a prayer that this disease becomes still rarer, so that every baby in the world is born healthy and happy. Amen.