About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Baby Girl in Hong Kong Born 'Pregnant' With Twin Fetuses

by Dr. Trupti Shirole on February 14, 2015 at 3:27 PM
 Baby Girl in Hong Kong Born 'Pregnant' With Twin Fetuses

A baby girl in Hong Kong was born pregnant with twin fetuses, a condition known as fetus-in-fetu. It is an incredibly rare phenomenon, and occurs in only about 1 in every 500,000 births and it is not clear exactly why it happens.

The World Health Organization (WHO) considered a tiny fetus found within an infant to be a kind of teratoma, or tumor, rather than a normally developing fetus. But the doctors who treated the baby girl wrote, "Rather than a teratoma, the tiny fetuses might instead be the remains of sibling twins that were absorbed during the pregnancy."

Advertisement

One of the fetus weighed 0.3 ounces (9.3 grams), while the other 0.5 ounces (14.2 grams), corresponding to about 8 and 10 weeks' gestation respectively. Both the babies had an umbilical cord that linked to a placenta-like mass in the little girl's belly.

The baby girl was too young to have conceived the fetuses herself. Instead, it is likely that the girl was once one of triplets, and for some mysterious reason, the two smaller fetuses were absorbed into the body of the remaining child.

Source: Medindia
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest General Health News

US Woman Loses All Limbs in Fish-Related Bacterial Outbreak
In a tragic incident, a woman in the US experienced the loss of all her limbs as a result of a bacterial outbreak linked to the consumption of contaminated fish.
NIH Launches the First In-Human Universal Flu Vaccine Trial
FluMos-v2, a unique universal influenza vaccine candidate, undergoing a phase 1 trial at NIH, increases recipients' immunity against many influenza viruses.
Global Polio Eradication Initiative Assesses Vaccination Strategies in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the polio campaign focuses on more than 270,000 children under the age of five years, residing in areas with insufficient vaccine coverage.
Diagnostic Errors: The Rocky Road to Life-threatening Health Complications
Dangers of Wrong Diagnosis: Diagnostic errors in healthcare can increase the risk of permanent disabilities and deaths.
Strategies To Maintain Work-Life Balance In The Digital Age
Due to our constant connectivity and the ability to be accessible at all times, it has become challenging to separate from work and fully participate in personal life.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

Baby Girl in Hong Kong Born 'Pregnant' With Twin Fetuses Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests