SIRENOMELIA (MERMAID SYNDROME)
Sirenomelia, also known as mermaid syndrome, is an extremely rare congenital disease involving the lower spine and lower limbs. Affected infants are born with partial or complete fusion of the legs. Additional malformations may also occur including genitourinary and gastrointestinal abnormalities, anomalies of the lumbarsacral spine and pelvis and absence or underdevelopment of one or both kidneys. Affected infants may have one foot, no feet or both feet, which may be rotated externally. The tailbone is usually absent and the sacrum is partially or completely absent as well. Additional conditions may occur with sirenomelia including imperforate anus, spina bifida, and heart (cardiac) malformations. Sirenomelia is often fatal during the newborn period. The exact cause of sirenomelia is unknown, most cases occur randomly for no apparent reason (sporadically). Credits: .https://images.app.goo.gl/ZSw3pu68C4n8L1688 https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/sirenomelia/
Mermaid syndrome, although very rare, is often fatal. Most babies with this condition are stillborn or die within a few days of birth, despite treatment. Worldwide, only a few babies have survived beyond the newborn stage