A 10-year-old girl from Bangladesh could be the first female to be affected by "tree-man syndrome", doctors claim.
Sahana Khatun and her father first noticed the bark-like warts growing on her face four months ago.
When the growth began spreading to her nose, chin and ears, her father became worried and they travelled south to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, in the country's capital, to seek help.
If her diagnosis is right, Sahana becomes one of a tiny group worldwide with epidermodysplasia verruciformis.
Sahana's father Mohammad Shahjahan told AFP he desperately hopes doctors can help his daughter.
"We are very poor. My daughter lost her mother when she was only six. I really hope that the doctors will remove the barks from my beautiful daughter's face," he said.
Doctors believe Sahana may have a less aggressive version of the illness and should be able to recover more quickly.
Only a handful of people - so far all men - have the unusual disorder.
This time last year, a 27-year-old Bangladeshi man Abul Bajandar was also diagnosed with the syndrome. His hands were consumed by the growth which weighed 5kg.
Surgeon removes man's 'tree growths'After 16 separate surgeries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, he has since made full recovery and can now fully use his hands.
Newshub.
