Struck by rare autoimmune disease at the age of 5

Rare condition that affects children hard to diagnose but chances for recovery good if identified early

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Zen On was five years old when rashes appeared on her legs, and she kept asking her parents to carry her whenever they went out. She also fell down frequently.

Zen's mother Tan Cheow Nee, 30, initially thought her daughter was too lazy to walk and clumsy.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 25, 2018, with the headline Struck by rare autoimmune disease at the age of 5. Subscribe