13-4-2024 (MANILA) In a heartrending tale from the Philippines, two-year-old Jaren Gamongan has been diagnosed with ‘werewolf syndrome’ due to extensive patches of hair covering his face and body since birth. His mother, Alma, suspects a link between her pregnancy diet, which included wild cat consumption, and her son’s rare medical condition.
The condition, known as hypertrichosis, is exceedingly rare, with only 50 to 100 reported cases worldwide. Alma’s unusual craving for wild cats, prevalent in the remote mountain region of Apayao where she resides, led to her ingestion of a black cat sautéed with herbs during her pregnancy with Jaren.
Upon Jaren’s birth, Alma was stricken with immediate regret as she noticed the excess hair growth along his neck, back, arms, and face. Locals and villagers attributed the condition to a “curse” resulting from consuming the wild cat.
Seeking answers and a potential cure, Alma consulted doctors who diagnosed Jaren with hypertrichosis after extensive tests. This rare condition, as documented in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, results in excessive hair growth beyond the usual amount for individuals of the same age, race, and sex.
Despite Alma’s initial fears of a correlation between her diet and her son’s condition, medical professionals assured her otherwise. However, the emotional toll persists as Jaren grapples with itchiness, particularly in warm weather, and Alma’s attempts to trim his excess hair prove futile as it regrows thicker and longer.
While there is no cure for hypertrichosis, treatments such as laser hair removal can help manage excessive hair growth. Alma and her family are now reaching out for donations to finance Jaren’s hair removal sessions, each costing 2,500 Philippine Peso (approximately S$60), in hopes of alleviating his condition and improving his quality of life.
