Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Man Suffering from Rare “Tree Man” Syndrome To Undergo More Surgeries After Growths Return

Man Suffering from Rare “Tree Man” Syndrome To Undergo More Surgeries After Growths Return
Zakir Hossain Chowdhury / Barcro / Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Abul Bajandar, a Bangladeshi citizen known as "Tree Man," is back in the hospital. Bajandar lives with epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a rare disease which results in extreme wart-like growths across his body.

Bajandar is one of the most notable cases.


Epidermodysplasia verruciformis, otherwise known as "treeman syndrome" is an extremely rare autosomal recessive hereditary skin disorder. The condition is caused by a defect in the immune system which increases one's susceptibility to HPV, or human papilloma virus. This, in turn, leads to chronic HPV infection, skin lesions, and an increased likelihood of developing melanoma.

Bajandar, a 28-year-old father from the small town of Khulna, was admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital and was diagnosed with the condition in January 2016. He underwent at least 25 surgeries for the removal of the warts––which amounted to roughly 11 pounds.

Unfortunately, the condition has worsened.



Bajandar first noticed the lesions when he was around 10-years-old. The growths eventually encompassed his hands. He was unable to continue working as a rickshaw driver and needed assistance with eating, drinking, brushing his teeth, and even showering.

"I want to live like a normal person. I just want to be able to hold my daughter properly and hug her," he told CNN in 2016.

Bajandar's case prompted doctors at the hospital to form a medical board for his treatment. The initial surgeries were considered a success.

Bajandar voluntarily skipped treatment after May 2016, according to one doctor.

"It's a complicated case and we were making progress but he left to go home. I requested him many times to come back but he didn't," said Dr. Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. "He came back to the hospital on Sunday with his mother. He should have come here six months back. He came too late."

The warts have since spread to Bajandar's feet and other parts of his body. Dr. Sen says the government bore the cost of Bajandar's treatment in 2016 and will do so again.

Bajandar is probably the most recognizable face with the condition, but there have been other notable cases, most of which have affected men. In January 2017, it was reported that a 10-year-old girl in Bangladesh by the name of Sahana Khatun was diagnosed shortly after lesions developed on her body. Her case likely marked the first time the disease had been diagnosed in a female, according to the BBC.

We wish Bajandar a steady recovery. This Twitter user said it best:



More from Trending

Everyday English textbook
Ivan Shilov on Unsplash

Bilingual People Break Down The Hardest Things About Learning English

Polyglots or bilingual people whose first language was not English often list the language as one of the most difficult to learn.

English has many rules, but a multitude of exceptions to each rule and some pronunciations that defy every rule. It can also be very difficult for ESL learners to understand the idioms and phrases common in English-speaking countries.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jasmine Crockett; Pam Bondi
MSNBC; Fox News

Jasmine Crockett Fires Back At Pam Bondi After She Threatened Her Over Musk Criticism

Republican President Donald Trump's Attorney General, Pam Bondi, followed the Trump administration's playbook by targeting a member of Congress to protect a billionaire Trump donor.

During a Sunday interview on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo, Bondi defended Elon Musk and Tesla while criticizing Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett.

Keep ReadingShow less
Former coach Jim Zulio pulling player Hailey Monroe's hair
@CBS6 Albany/YouTube

High School Coach Fired After He's Caught On Camera Yanking Female Athlete's Ponytail

A Northville Central High School basketball coach was fired shortly after he yanked on a player's ponytail—and the whole incident was caught on camera.

The Falcons had just lost to Hudson Valley Community College, La Fargeville, and the Falcons were watching the winning team's players celebrating on the field.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk
Isaac Wasserman/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Musk's Dad Claims Elon Isn't Racist Due To Past Friendships With Family's 'Black Servants'

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk, argued there's no way his son could be racist due to his past relationships with the "black servants" who worked for the family in apartheid South Africa.

After the Tesla CEO faced scrutiny for criticizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Errol Musk was confronted by inquiries about his son's animosity toward the program.

Keep ReadingShow less
Teen getting haircut with a trimmer
Tatsiana Volkava/GettyImages

Arkansas GOP Ripped Over Bill Banning 'Gender-Nonconforming' Haircuts For Minors

Arkansas Republicans are being lambasted for introducing a bill that could punish people for supporting transgender youth's social transitions, such as the use of preferred names or pronouns, and giving gender-nonconforming haircuts.

House Bill 1668, the "Vulnerable Youth Protection Act," would allow minors and their parents to sue anyone who acknowledges another minor's gender identity.

Keep ReadingShow less