Zing has brought attention to the situation of 8-month-old Daeima Manghrio, a Pakistani infant born with an encephalocele deformity on his face. Initially resembling a stone adhered to his nose, the tumor progressively grew to the size of a tennis ball over an eight-month period.

Daeima’s parents sought medical assistance at Jinnah Hospital in Karachi, situated 208 km away from their residence. The tumor, now akin to a tennis ball in size, had nearly obscured one of the boy’s eyes, according to his father, Jayram.

Given the child’s tender age, surgical intervention was deemed impractical by the hospital’s medical team. The diagnosis revealed that Daeima has encephalocele, a rare form of neural tube defect where the brain extends beyond the skull. Due to the child’s age, the medical team stressed the importance of conducting tests to assess overall health and an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) before contemplating any surgical procedures. Presently, Daeima adheres to a specialized diet under medical supervision. However, concerns have been raised about potential delays in treatment, with apprehension regarding the tumor’s impact on the boy’s eyesight, as reported by Vnexpress.

Encephalocele, a rare congenital anomaly affecting the neural tube, is typically diagnosed prenatally. Orthopedic surgery is commonly employed to reposition the brain inside the skull and close the opening, with the procedure often avoiding any resultant disability, even in cases involving large tumors, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).