VietNamNet Bridge - The face of a man in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang has eroded between his mouth and nose, making it difficult for him to speak or eat.

Huynh Van Dat, 51, a resident of Hau Hoa village in Hau Thanh Commune, Cai Be District has been ravaged by a strange disease for 11 years, which has affected his face.

Dat’s wife - Huynh Thi Trieu – said in 2004, Dat began getting nosebleeds, up to three to four times a day. He took traditional medicines but the disease did not ease. He began shedding tears.

Dat went to Hoa Hoa Hospital in HCM City for examination. Doctors said that he had problems with a nose partition (deviated nasal septum) and performed surgery.

Back home for a few months, in early 2005 whenever Dat drank water, it ran up to his nose, through a small hole in the upper jaw.

Several months later, the hole got bigger and spread to the nose partition.

Dat went to Van Hanh Hospital, where doctors said he suffered from nose bridge failure and performed a second surgery. However it did not help.

Dat then saw doctors at the Hospital of the HCM City Pharma University and the Vietnam-France Hospital. Doctors all said that he had nose bridge failure. This disease can be cured, but at a high cost.

After many hospitals and experiencing several surgeries, the disease was not cured. Out of money, Dat returned home for treatment.

After several years, the small hole on the nose grew and “ate” Dat’s nose, upper jaw and eyes. The disease does not cause bleeding but it is painful.

He now lies on the bed because he cannot see anything. It is also very hard for him to talk or eat. However, he is still of sound mind.

Dat’s wife said that the family was out of pocket, so they could not take Dat to the hospital.

After Dat’s case was reported by the local media, some doctors in HCM City and local authorities have visited him and offered him help.

Le Ha