Mumbai, July 21: In a rare medical phenomenon, a baby boy who was born with 25 fingers in Rabkavi Banhatti town in Karnataka's Bagalkot has captured the attention of the entire medical community. The newborn, delivered at Sunshine Hospital, a multispeciality facility, has 12 toes (six on each foot) and 13 fingers (six on the right hand and seven on the left). This unusual case of a rare medical condition called Polydactyly has brought immense joy to the baby boy's family.

Gurappa, the baby’s father, shared in an interview with News 18 Kannada that his wife frequently visited the Sri Bhuvaneshwari Devi Shakti Peetam Suragiri Hills temple in Karnataka's Kundaragi, praying for children. He expressed his happiness, believing that the goddess answered their prayers by blessing them with this unique child. Quintuplet Delight in Bihar: Woman Gives Birth to Five Baby Girls in Kishanganj, All Healthy.

Dr Parvati Hiremath, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Sunshine Hospital, explained that the baby’s condition, known as polydactyly, is due to an imbalance of chromosomes. Despite the extra digits, both the baby and the mother are healthy.

What is Polydactyly?

Polydactyly is a congenital condition where a person is born with extra fingers or toes. This condition can occur on one or both hands or feet and can vary in form. The extra digits can range from small, non-functional nubbins to fully formed, functional fingers or toes. Polydactyly can be caused by genetic mutations or can occur spontaneously without a known genetic cause. It can be inherited, especially if there is a family history of the condition. Polydactyly is one of the most common congenital limb differences, affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 newborns.  Rajasthan: Woman Delivers Baby on Bench Outside Nainwa Sub-District Hospital in Bundi, Doctor and ANM Staff Suspended.

In a similar incident in 2023, a baby girl was born with 26 fingers and toes in Deeg district, Rajasthan. The girl had seven fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, attributed to a genetic disorder. Her family believes she is an incarnation of a goddess they worship. The newborn’s maternal uncle, Deepak, expressed their joy, stating, “She has come to our home as a goddess. We all are lucky that Lakshmi has taken birth in our family.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 21, 2024 12:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).