Rare skin disorder in newborn treated in Bastar's Bijapur, banana leaves used for care

RAIPUR: In remote, insurgency-hit Bijapur of Bastar, doctors at a district hospital SNCU pulled off a rare save—reviving a critically ill newborn with a life-threatening skin disorder using intensive care and an improvised banana-leaf bedding to protect its peeling skin.

Admitted on April 4 in a fragile state, the infant from Korasaguda village was diagnosed with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS), a rare condition where the skin blisters and peels like burns, leaving the body highly vulnerable to infection. It's a highly uncommon condition in which the skin peels off like severe burns and infection spreads rapidly, posing a high risk to life if untreated.

The team sustained a 25-day treatment regimen of antibiotics and high-precision nursing, using sterilised banana leaves as a soft, non-abrasive surface to minimise friction and infection risk—an innovation that proved crucial to the baby’s recovery.

The infant, born to Shanti Motu Punem from Korasaguda village in Basaguda block of Usur, went under intensive treatment over 25 days, combining antibiotic therapy with meticulous nursing care under the paediatrician Dr Neha Chavan. Given the extreme fragility of the infant’s skin, doctors adopted an innovative yet traditional support method—placing the baby on sterilised banana leaves to minimise friction and reduce the risk of secondary infections. The leaves, used as a soft, non-irritating surface, were changed frequently to maintain hygiene and ensure a sterile environment.

Officials said the case required constant monitoring due to the high susceptibility to infections and the delicate condition of the newborn’s skin. The treatment was carried out under the supervision of chief medical and health officer Dr B R Pujari and civil surgeon Dr Ratna Thakur, with administrative backing.

Family members said they had nearly lost hope of the baby’s survival, describing the recovery as “nothing short of a miracle”. They credited the medical team’s dedication and round-the-clock care for saving the child.


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