A 16-year-old boy has reportedly been “living in a pond” for the past five years because of a mysterious condition that doctors have been unable to diagnose.Iqbal Sheikh, from Murshidabad in West Bengal, India, experiences an intense burning sensation affecting his skin.The young boy’s loved ones have sought answers from several hospitals as well as traditional healers, but nobody has yet been able to identify the condition or find a way to relieve his pain.
As a result, the teen has resorted to spending most of his time in a pond for temporary relief.
The son of Asia’s richest person has offered to help Iqbal
Gulf News reported that Iqbal has been dealing with the unexplained condition for several years without receiving a diagnosis.
After his heartbreaking story began circulating on social media, it reportedly caught the attention of Indian businessman Anant Ambani, the son of Mukesh Ambani, the wealthiest man in Asia.
Ambani is said to have intervened and arranged for the teenager to travel more than 1,300 miles to Mumbai, where he can undergo a specialist medical evaluation.
Doctors will carry out examinations to try to figure out what has been causing Iqbal’s symptoms and determine how his condition could be treated or managed.
The intervention could offer Iqbal and his family a new opportunity to finally understand the health problem after years without answers.
Anant Ambani is the son of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in Asia. Credit: Hindustan Times / Getty
Doctors have reportedly raised one possible explanation
While Iqbal has not been diagnosed, some doctors have reportedly suggested that his symptoms could be consistent with erythromelalgia – a rare disorder that can affect your feet, hands, and other areas. It can cause a burning sensation in the skin as well as warmth and redness.
Per Cleveland Clinic, the condition is chronic, meaning it can stay with you for life.
Its exact cause isn’t always clear. The NHS states that in some cases, erythromelalgia may result from a genetic change inherited from a parent.
It causes flare-ups that can be triggered by an increase in your body temperature, such as exercise, wearing warm or tight clothes and shoes, hot weather, drinking alcohol or consuming spicy food, dehydration, and even stress.
Despite similarities between those symptoms and what Iqbal has reportedly experienced, there is currently no confirmed diagnosis linking him to the condition.
Therefore, specialists will need to conduct thorough examinations before determining the cause of his years-long ordeal and deciding on an appropriate treatment or management plan.
Ambani previously made headlines for his grand wedding
Ambani, who serves as Executive Director of Reliance Industries Limited, previously garnered global attention when he married Radhika Merchant in 2024.
Their extravagant celebrations became known as India’s “wedding of the year” thanks to their luxury and star-studded guest lists.
The pre-wedding festivities included appearances from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, while Rihanna performed some of her biggest hits.
A local airport in Gujarat was even granted temporary international status to accommodate guests, while the celebrations also included a $900 million cruise sailing between Palermo and Portofino in Italy.
When Ambani and Merchant eventually tied the knot in July 2024, guests included Kim Kardashian, David Beckham, John Cena, Mike Tyson, and even world leaders like Tony Blair and Boris Johnson (former UK Prime Ministers).