© AsiaOne
Her parents have tried everything from witch doctors to anti-epilepsy drugs, but the disease has experts and officials worldwide baffled.
The affliction is loosely termed 'nodding disease' by its victims in Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania, where it is currently contained.
Named after its primary symptom of pathological nodding, it has a peculiar set of symptoms, reportedly affecting only children below 15 years of age.
The seizures are triggered by the food and low temperatures, but is strangely not present when victims are given unfamiliar food, said a World Health Organization (WHO) report.
The seizures stop once the child stops eating or feels warm again.
Children affected by it also do not grow up - a 12-year-old can look like a 5-year-old. Besides physical growth, mental development also appears to be stunted, leading to retardation.
Children afflicted often waste away from malnourishment and infections, as their seizures terrify them from eating and they slowly fade away.
They've been immunized for something. Guess I'm preaching to the choir. These are sad days.