VietNamNet Bridge - After a few days off to eat, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyen, 23, could not eat any kind of food, except for fruits and vegetable. Because of this strange disease, the healthy girl has become a skeleton.




The patient is a resident of Cua Ha 1 village in Cam Phong commune, Cam Thuy district, Thanh Hoa province.

According to Tuyen’s parents, Mr. Nguyen Van Loc and Mrs. Tran Thi Tu, nearly five years ago, Tuyen failed the high-school final exams. She was shocked, cried and refuse to eat for several days.

“We encouraged her that if she failed the exams this year then she could try the next year exams, but she was still very sad and refused to eat. We did not know what to advise her. I thought that she would be normal after a few days but I was wrong,” said Mrs. Tu.

“For a long time she did not eat any food. We were very scared and forced her to eat but she vomited. We tried many kinds of food and finally found out that her stomach only accepted fruits and vegetable,” Tu said.

“However, we thought that fruits and vegetable could not replace food and if it kept for a long time, her health would be affected. We hastily brought her to Hanoi for medical check-up. However, all doctors confirmed that she was completely healthy. Since then Tuyen has never eaten any food and she is wasting away."

Tuyen said she could eat 5kg of apples or a bunch of bananas once.

Mrs. Tu said her daughter could eat green mangos or lemons for a week. "I'm afraid that if she eats too much sour fruits, her stomach will be harmed but luckily, doctors say that she is healthy," said the mother.

Ms. Tu said her daughter did not dare to go out. Sometimes it seemed that she could not survive, especially in the winter. She had to always sit besides a coal stove during the winter.

Because of this strange disease, Tuyen could not realize her dream of becoming a teacher.

Mr. Loc and Mrs. Tu married in 1989 and have three children. Tuyen is the first child and only daughter.

Thanks to the family’s care, the girl has recently gained weight to 40kg. She is also actively drinking porridge to become familiar with rice.
 
Similar cases were reported in Vietnam previously. That is Ms. Vo Thi Hue Thu, 49, in Dong Village, the town of Vinh Binh, Go Cong Tay district, Tien Giang province. For 10 years this woman has not taken any rice nor food. Her only food is fruits, vegetables and water. However, this woman is still healthy.

Another case is Ms. Nguyen Thi Lua, 75, in Vinh Long province. This woman caught the strange disease after illness. She has not taken any rice or food for 46 years. Her major food is several kinds of fruits and water.

Mr. Phan Tan Loc, 68, in Can Tho city has taken iced tea as his food for 25 years.

Compiled by Thu Ha