Sixteen-year-old Iqbal Sheikh has spent the last five years living inside a pond, driven by a debilitating and rare skin condition that makes him feel as though his body is constantly on fire. For the teenager, stepping out of the water means enduring an unbearable, agonizing burning sensation that leaves him with no choice but to remain submerged.

The struggle of Iqbal Sheikh

Living in a pond is not a choice for Iqbal Sheikh; it is a desperate survival strategy. The constant exposure to water has taken a severe toll on his physical health. Because he remains in the water day and night, the skin on his hands, feet, and across his entire body has begun to rot, turning a pale white color. This prolonged submersion has also compromised his immune system, leaving him frequently suffering from coughs, colds, and respiratory issues.

  • Duration: 5 years of continuous submersion.
  • Condition: Severe, unidentified skin burning sensation.
  • Current Status: Skin degradation and persistent respiratory illness.

Why the water is his only refuge

The teenager describes his condition as a perpetual state of heat that only subsides when his skin is fully hydrated. Without the cooling effect of the pond water, the pain becomes so intense that he believes he would not survive. This medical anomaly has effectively trapped him in a cycle of illness, where the very thing keeping him alive is also causing his skin to deteriorate and his lungs to weaken.

What needs to happen next

This is a clear case of a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention from the provincial health department and specialized dermatologists. While the family remains in a state of helplessness, the primary goal must be a clinical diagnosis of the condition. Medical experts need to determine if this is a severe form of eczema, a genetic disorder, or an inflammatory condition that can be managed with modern medicine rather than extreme environmental measures.

If you are a medical professional or represent an organization capable of providing dermatological support, reaching out to local health authorities in his area is the first step toward getting Iqbal the specialized care he needs. The community and the government must act quickly to provide him with a sterile, controlled environment and a proper medical evaluation before his condition leads to irreversible organ damage or secondary infections.