Turkish father tries to treat boy’s rare illness with home-made medical instrument

ANTALYA – Anadolu Agency

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A three-month-old baby diagnosed with Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CNS), a very rare illness, has started his treatment at a hospital in the southern province of Antalya, after his father hit headlines for trying to treat him with a home-made mechanism due to a lack of money. 

Poyraz, the son of Servet and Zeliha Ergün, who live in the small town of Muratpaşa in Antalya, had been diagnosed with CNS, a disorder affecting the metabolism of bilirubin, a chemical formed from the breakdown of the hemoglobin in red blood cells.

His father said private facilities were too expensive for treatment and he was unable to find a vacancy at state hospitals. He therefore tried to treat the boy with a home-made phototherapy device, spending 550 Turkish Liras instead of the 10,000 liras that the proper equipment costs. He used iron beams and fluorescent lights to imitate the life-saving device, assisted by a medical instruments professional and iron craftsmen.

Upon media stories about the tragic case, the Health Ministry’s provincial representatives took action and Poyraz was taken to a state hospital for treatment.

Dr. Yasin Bayram of the hospital said the baby has developed a hernia on his belly due to crying so much.

He is now staying in a private room at the hospital and is having his tests finalized.
Prof. Dr. Murat Canpolat warned that the home-made instrument may have harmed the three-month-old boy.

Meanwhile, the sister of the baby has reportedly developed a similar illness, after receiving a liver transplant.