“Unbelievable Medical Marvel: Surgeons Extract Rare Parasitic Twin from 17-Year-Old in Groundbreaking Operation!”
“I couldn’t travel anywhere or do any physical activity,” the boy told the Indian Express. He even dropped out of school in the eighth grade due to the treatment he faced from his peers.
And while the parasitic twin negatively impacted the teen’s social life, it also presented serious health issues. Parasitic twins have been known to cause cardiovascular and neurological issues as individuals age. With his future at risk, the teen was desperate to find a solution.
He recovered quickly from his surgery and went home after only four days in the hospital. Now, he has been inspired to take on the world.
“I hope to study and get a job,” the boy said. “A new world has opened up to me.”
The Origins Of Parasitic Twins
This Delhi teen was not the first person to live with a parasitic twin, but the phenomenon is exceedingly rare. “Only 40 to 50 cases of parasitic twins have been documented in world medical literature,” Dr. Krishna told the BBC.
One of the most famous cases of parasitic twins was that of Jean Libbera, a 20th-century circus performer who had a twin protruding from his abdomen. Dubbed the “Double-Bodied Man,” Libbera performed in sideshows around the world alongside his parasitic twin named Jacques, who had two arms, two legs, and a partially formed head.
Public DomainJacques Libbera, a 20th-century performer who had a parasitic twin protruding from his abdomen.
But what causes parasitic twins? Most experts agree that the condition is the result of issues with embryonic fission and fusion. After conception, the cluster of cells forming an embryo can split, resulting in identical twins in traditional cases.
