'Werewolf boy' begs for cure to rare condition

An 11-year-old Indian boy whose face and body are covered with hair is baffling medical experts.

Pruthviraj Patil has suffered from hypertrichosis, a rare genetic condition also known as Werewolf Syndrome, since birth. He is believed to be one of only 50 people in the world with the condition.

Pruthviraj’s family have tried a range of treatments - including homeopathy, traditional Indian Ayurvedic remedies and more recently laser surgery – but none has proved successful.



Now he has appealed to doctors to help him find a permanent cure.

"I would like to get the hair removed but even after laser treatment it grows back. The doctors don't have any answers," he said.

When Prithviraj was born villagers told his mother she had given birth to a God. Others thought he was a supernatural creature and a bad omen because of his unique appearance.

With more photos.