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ST Medical Mysteries

Medical Mysteries

Diarrhoea, sinus infections for a year: Living with invisible conditions

(From left) Software engineer Jerry Tan, 41, and Administrator, Brian Chan, 30, were diagnosed with primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) late in life, making it difficult as symptoms are often mistaken for common, non-related illnesses such as the flu or food poisoning.
(From left) Software engineer Jerry Tan, 41, and Administrator, Brian Chan, 30, were diagnosed with primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) late in life, making it difficult as symptoms are often mistaken for common, non-related illnesses such as the flu or food poisoning.

What are the health risks of getting a tattoo?

Process of making tattoo, closeup
Process of making tattoo, closeup

Medical Mysteries

After getting a series of tattoos, she developed pain and blurry vision in her right eye

Tattoo-associated vision loss, while rare, causes chronic inflammation of the eye, which can appear years after the tattoo is done.
Tattoo-associated vision loss, while rare, causes chronic inflammation of the eye, which can appear years after the tattoo is done.

Medical Mysteries

Living with growing muscle weakness, movement challenges and seizures

Student of visual communications at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Abigail Chua, 20, inherited her rare condition from her mother. 

ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Student of visual communications at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Abigail Chua, 20, inherited her rare condition from her mother. 

ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Medical Mysteries

Jogger rushed to hospital after ‘super rare’ allergic reaction triggered by exercise

Ms Selina Ang (right) travelling with her son Caleb Lim to Nepal.
Ms Selina Ang (right) travelling with her son Caleb Lim to Nepal.

Medical Mysteries

Looking towards gene therapy to give baby Ginny a normal life

Ginny at five months, smiles at familiar faces and recognises the voices of her parents but her condition resulted in her not able to lift her head, sit up, suck or swallow properly, and has a weak cough.
Ginny at five months, smiles at familiar faces and recognises the voices of her parents but her condition resulted in her not able to lift her head, sit up, suck or swallow properly, and has a weak cough.

Medical Mysteries

Cracking the code: Diagnosing rare medical conditions can take up to 15 years

The team of medical "investigators": (from left) Portraits of Ms Shreya S Shetty, Case Management Officer, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children's Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI), National University Hospital (NUH); Adjunct Associate Professor Chan Yee Cheun, Senior Consultant, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, NUH; Dr Lau Kin Mun, Senior Resident, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, NUH; and Adjunct Associate Professor Chin Hui-Lin, Senior Consultant, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Paediatrics, KTP-NUCMI, NUH.
The team of medical "investigators": (from left) Portraits of Ms Shreya S Shetty, Case Management Officer, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children's Medical Institute (KTP-NUCMI), National University Hospital (NUH); Adjunct Associate Professor Chan Yee Cheun, Senior Consultant, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, NUH; Dr Lau Kin Mun, Senior Resident, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, NUH; and Adjunct Associate Professor Chin Hui-Lin, Senior Consultant, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Paediatrics, KTP-NUCMI, NUH.

Medical Mysteries

Mother of two suffered falls, double vision and memory loss because of rare condition

Ms Poonam Choudhary, (right) 43, a home baker; and her sons (from left): Aayansh Choudhary, 11; and Aarav Choudhary, 13.
Ms Poonam Choudhary, (right) 43, a home baker; and her sons (from left): Aayansh Choudhary, 11; and Aarav Choudhary, 13.

Genomics for Kids in ASEAN programme to set up registry to further tackle rare diseases in region

Ms Abigail Chua (left) and Ms Raphaella Gautama, who were both diagnosed with rare conditions in 2019.
Ms Abigail Chua (left) and Ms Raphaella Gautama, who were both diagnosed with rare conditions in 2019.

Medical Mysteries

Saving face: He’s had four major operations since he was 1½ to make him look ‘normal’

jucrouzon/ST20260115_202635200685/Ng Sor Luan/Mr. Tobie Goh, 22, who underwent surgery for Crouzon syndrome.
jucrouzon/ST20260115_202635200685/Ng Sor Luan/Mr. Tobie Goh, 22, who underwent surgery for Crouzon syndrome.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.