A girl with a rare gene condition which left her “addicted” to water has undergone life-saving treatment at Great Ormond Street.
Two-year-old Samaviya Mahmood would drink up to eight litres of water a day to quench her thirst — a normal child needs less than a litre a day. Even the sight of a running tap would make her desperate for a drink.
Her craving was triggered by a serious disorder which stops the kidneys functioning properly.
Without urgent treatment, she could have suffered kidney failure. But she is now making good progress after doctors at the leading children’s hospital treated her with special drugs.
Samaviya, from High Wycombe, was born with the gene disorder cystinosis, which causes cell damage, especially to the kidneys’ filtering system. Only 150 people in Britain have the condition.
Samaviya’s mother Nazya Malik said: “Whenever Samaviya saw or heard running water, she became incredibly distressed.”
Eventually, doctors identified Samaviya’s condition and at Great Ormond Street she was given a drug to rid her body of excessive cysteine. She has now nearly halved her water consumption.
Great Ormond Street has opened The British Kidney Patient Association Children's Kidney Centre unit to offer care for children like Samaviya. The Morgan Stanley clinical building offers pioneering treatment for heart, lung, kidney and cardiac problems.
