Toddler allergic to water blisters when she cries, sweats, or bathes
A toddler has been diagnosed with an extremely rare condition which has left her allergic to water and unable to take a bath in fear of breaking out in blisters.
Eighteen-month-old Ivy Angerman, from Hastings in Minnesota, has aquagenic urticaria, a condition which only affects around 50 people in the world, and breaks out in rashes whenever she comes into contact with water.
At first her parents, Brittany and Daniel Angerman, believed their daughter's agony during bath time was down to shampoos and soaps. But it soon became apparent Ivy's symptoms stemmed from just water alone, Metro reported.
"We tried everything and nothing changed, so we put her in water and she still got blisters," Ms Angerman revealed.
Ivy's worried parents rushed her to hospital where their worst fears were confirmed. Their daughter was allergic to water.
Her life has become extremely restricted. Simple things such as taking a bath or washing her hands have become near impossible.
She can't even step foot outside when its raining without breaking out into angry welts. Simply crying and sweating will also trigger a reaction.
"It’s at the point now where she can’t get in the bath for more than 15 or 20 seconds before she starts screaming,"Ms Angerman said.
With Ivy's screaming comes tears which in turn make her cheeks swell up and blister. The whole ordeal has come as a heartbreaking twist in Ms Angerman's young daughter's life.
"It’s really hard, it breaks my heart, everything about it makes me upset."
Ivy takes antihistamines in a bid to tackle her rare condition, but doctor's ration her prescription to make sure she doesn't become immune to the medication.
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For the meantime, her parents have resorted to cleaning her with anti-bacterial wipes but they now worry what her condition will mean for her in later life.
"I’m concerned. What happens if one day a child at school decides to pour water over her? I’m worried she will get bullied or teased for it when she’s older," Ms Angerman said.
They have also heard from an allergist the condition can worsen, including being unable to drink water.
Her family have now set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise money to fund her continuous care and further research which will hopefully cure the allergy.
Ms Angerman plans to buy Ivy a water purifier, hoping it will reduce her reaction while the long term plan is to move the family to a drier area to ease her pain.
"It’s very tough for the family but we will take each day as it comes and figure out how to do what is best for Ivy," she said.
