Man finds solution to condition that left him with diarrhoea for 30 years

A man who had diarrhoea for 30 years has finally hung up his toilet.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the unnamed 33-year-old was hospitalised at least eight times due to recurrent runs but doctors failed to diagnose a rare genetic condition that was to blame for decades.

After years of testing and pondering, doctors discovered that he had a rare mutation causing immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome, that made his immune system attack his intestines, causing diarrhoea.

Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter

Tests showed that he had a mutation on his FOXP3 gene, which is responsible for regulating a type of white blood cell called T-cells.

This caused the syndrome, which is when an overactive immune system starts attacking the body's own tissues and organs, mistaking them for invaders.

He then had a bone marrow transplant to treat the problem and eight months later it has been all good news - he is diarrhoea free.

His gain is the toilet paper industry's loss.

Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.