ST Medical Mysteries

Medical Mysteries

Toddler’s rare diagnosis gives family answers to her developmental delays

Three-year-old Tabitha Lowe is diagnosed with Okur-Chung Neurodevelopmental Syndrome (OCNDS), a rare condition first identified in 2016. She is blowing bubbles with her father Joshua Lowe, 35, mother Tiffany Tan, 34, and younger brother Judah, one.

Medical Mysteries

Half her vision went dark. It was not an eye problem but her nervous system under attack

Madam Tan Lee Chern and her son Mr Lee Rui Xuan. Madam Tan was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Medical Mysteries

Couple prepared their 7 children for the arrival of their ‘special sister’

Video producer Eu-jin Lim and his wife Eunice Wong with their children, (from left) Ethan, 12; Eusebius, four; Ezekiel, seven; Emmanuel, six; Eva, 15 months; Esther, two; Evron, nine; and Elijah, 10.

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.

What are the health risks of getting a tattoo?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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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.