All About Paralympic Archer Sheetal Devi's Rare Condition Phocomelia: Know Causes, Symptoms

Indian archer Sheetal Devi has emerged as a shining example of inspiration against all odds. Hailing from Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, this remarkable young woman is ruling the archery world with her feet. Being the first armless women archer, the 17-year-old showed her grit by hitting a bull’s-eye shot at the ongoing Paris Para Olympics 2024.

The young archer, born with a rare congenital disorder called phocomelia, stands as a testament to the power of determination and resilience. In this article, let’s dive into what phocomelia is, its causes and symptoms.

While in Sheetal Devi’s case it was stubby hands, phocomelia is a rare disorder that causes underdeveloped limbs. According to Consultant Neurologist of Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad, Dr Sudhir Kumar, as reported by The Indian Express, “There are some other cases where the lower limbs could also remain underdeveloped. The severity of phocomelia varies, ranging from absence of parts of the upper limb to the entire upper limb.”

Here Are The Causes of Phocomelia

Inherited

The most common cause is that phocomelia can be hereditary. It’s an autosomal recessive trait linked with an abnormality in chromosome 8. The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) states an ‘irregular number of chromosomes’ may be the cause of phocomelia. With an uneven number of chromosomes, birth defects are formed in the body, such as shortened or missing limbs.

Thalidomide

Another cause of phocomelia is the use of a drug known as thalidomide during the first trimester of pregnancy. Thalidomide was once marketed as a safe drug for pregnancy to treat anxiety and morning sickness. Eventually, the use of this drug during early pregnancy was found to cause birth defects. In the 1960s, thalidomide was withdrawn as a pregnancy drug as it caused birth defects in more than 10,000 babies around the world, reveals Healthline.

Other causes include the consumption of alcohol or cocaine, gestational diabetes, X-ray radiation and blood flow problems.

Know The Symptoms of Phocomelia

While phocomelia is a rare defect that primarily causes shortened or missing limbs, there may be other symptoms too. These include:

• Vomiting
• Severe migraines
• Increased pressure within the skull due to excess cerebrospinal fluid
• Shorter neck length
• Mental deficiencies
• Malformation of the kidney, urethra, uterus, or heart
• Problems with blood clotting