Eliya Lamisoni, 39, who lives in Mchinji, has been haunted by overgrown and abnormal ears for the past 20 years.
Lamisoni, who lives in Kanyama Village, Traditional Authority Mlonyeni in the district, said the problem began in 1993 after a tree he was cutting fell on him.
“I have been to hospitals in Namitete, Kasungu, Mchinji and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre. The tree injured one ear, but the problem spread to the other one.
“When I went to QECH, I was told that the overgrowth could be cut. However, doctors said the hospital did not have the drugs to sterilise the wound after the operation. I was told to buy the drug. I don’t know how much it costs and where to buy it,” he said.
Lamisoni, who is married and has six children, said he is a bicycle taxi operator.
But he said he has stopped the business because whenever he cycles the ears and whole body hurt.
“I take some painkillers to alleviate the pain. I am thankful to my wife. She works hard to feed the family. She genuinely loves me,” he said.
Dr Davis Mtontha, who works at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe, said Lamisoni is suffering from a condition called keloids.
“It is treatable, but requires specialised surgery skills. After removal, either radiotherapy or application of steroids is done to the wound,” said Mtontha.
He said the condition occurs from injuries caused by use of razor blades, surgical procedures or injuries to the skin, among others.
He said if keloids are left untreated, they continue growing until they reach a stage where they stop on their own.
“But they are not dangerous apart from that they disfigure the person,” he said.
Jimmy Malanda, a dermatology officer at KCH, also confirmed that Lamisoni has keloids.
“They cause a burning sensation. They disfigure the person and make one feel out of place,” said Malanda.
