Indian teenager with “zombie syndrome” receives treatment in Shanghai

After catching a cold and fever, he developed a rare disease.

In 2020, a 10-year-old boy from India, known as Xiao Bao, experienced body tremors and hypersensitivity to pain after suffering from a cold and fever. He was diagnosed with the extremely rare “zombie syndrome” in a local hospital. Despite receiving comprehensive treatment, his condition did not improve; instead, the curvature of his back worsened, and he began to experience respiratory dysfunction.

Over the years, his family sought treatment at major hospitals across India and even traveled to countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. However, doctors in these places deemed the surgical risks to be too great and did not admit him for treatment.

Seeking hope in China.

After extensive research, Xiao Bao’s family discovered that Xinhua Hospital in Shanghai has a rare disease treatment center, performing around 40 to 50 surgeries for severe scoliosis each year. In May 2023, they arrived at the hospital seeking help. Doctors found that Xiao Bao’s long-term use of hormones had led to osteoporosis and other complex conditions, which meant his overall health did not support immediate surgery. A team of experts from 17 departments conducted a joint consultation and ultimately developed a three-step treatment plan: “traction + surgery + rehabilitation.”

Improvement in cardiopulmonary function after 5 months of traction.

After undergoing five months of traction therapy, Xiao Bao’s respiratory function improved, bringing him closer to being eligible for surgery. Additionally, the severity of his spinal deformity was reduced.

Successful completion of a 7-hour corrective surgery.

On January 9, 2024, under a meticulous surgical plan and thorough preparation, the medical team worked in precise coordination, and the entire surgery was successfully completed in 7 hours.

Joint treatment for rehabilitation.

After the surgery, Xiao Bao experienced abnormal osteoporosis, and due to the tremors and hypersensitivity caused by zombie syndrome, he was unable to wear the post-operative protective brace. Without wearing the brace after the correction, the treatment would likely fail. A multi-departmental MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) conducted consultations and discussions, designing various drug combinations and different delivery methods to control his primary condition, allowing Xiao Bao to coexist with the brace.

Thanks to meticulous treatment, Xiao Bao was successfully discharged just before the Lunar New Year in 2024. His cardiopulmonary function significantly improved, and both his standing and sitting postures visibly improved. His parents were delighted to discover that his height had increased from 138 cm before surgery to 162 cm.

On April 23, 2024, Xiao Bao’s final follow-up examination showed that all functions had recovered well. After nearly a year, the young boy from India completed his medical journey in Shanghai, China, with a successful outcome.

China has taken a leading position in the field of rare disease treatment, and an increasing number of international patients are choosing to seek treatment in China.