[Kryptid]

I see.
So what are your thoughts on this? https://www.thefreelibrary.com/JUST+ONE+CUP+OF+WATER+COULD+KILL+LITTLE+HEIDI%3B+Girl%27s+deadly+allergy...-a061152595

Is it some satire like the Onion?

I don't know. If true, it is a perplexing case. Either way, it isn't a literal water allergy.

[alancalverd]

Blood is mostly saline. Problem is that there are several medical preparations of "saline" with different concentrations of NaCl and some other additives, according to the purpose of the material. It is entirely possible that the lass in question was administered the wrong type of "saline" and the story grew out of control.

Not only ourselves, but everything we eat and drink, is mostly water. The idea that anyone could survive the first 24 hours after birth with an allergy to water is absurd.

[Janus]

Blood is mostly saline. Problem is that there are several medical preparations of "saline" with different concentrations of NaCl and some other additives, according to the purpose of the material. It is entirely possible that the lass in question was administered the wrong type of "saline" and the story grew out of control.

Not only ourselves, but everything we eat and drink, is mostly water. The idea that anyone could survive the first 24 hours after birth with an allergy to water is absurd.

For that fact, the very air we breathe contains water vapor.

[lilurchin (OP)]

Blood is mostly saline. Problem is that there are several medical preparations of "saline" with different concentrations of NaCl and some other additives, according to the purpose of the material. It is entirely possible that the lass in question was administered the wrong type of "saline" and the story grew out of control.

Not only ourselves, but everything we eat and drink, is mostly water. The idea that anyone could survive the first 24 hours after birth with an allergy to water is absurd.

For that fact, the very air we breathe contains water vapor.

Would it be enough to cause anaphylaxis in a person so 'allergic' to H2O molecules that a mouthful of water sends them into shock..?

[Bored chemist]

So what are your thoughts on this?

It is completely wrong.
I don't know if it is a lie, a joke, an honest report of someone else's lie or joke; or whatever.

But it is wrong.
What is says can not be true.

[Kryptid]

Let's not forget that our own body generates significant amounts of water vapor itself just by breathing. Anyone who has been out in sub-zero temperatures can readily see this.

[lilurchin (OP)]

Here's the link to the story btw -
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/JUST+ONE+CUP+OF+WATER+COULD+KILL+LITTLE+HEIDI%3B+Girl%27s+deadly+allergy...-a061152595

Although the article briefly mentions 'Aquagenic Urticaria' her symptoms don't match established medical literature on the condition. Aquagenic Urticaria is not life threatening and just causes itchy hives on the *skin* (emphasis), which is literally what urticaria means - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquagenic_urticaria



Kind of like someone saw a short summary on Aquagenic Urticaria, assumed it was a literal allergy to the H2O molecule and just went with it from there.

[Bored chemist]

Here's a link to another story.
http://sunheadlines.blogspot.com/2008/11/classics-freddie-starr-ate-my-hamster.html
Just because it's published doesn't mean it's true.

[lilurchin (OP)]

Here's a link to another story.
http://sunheadlines.blogspot.com/2008/11/classics-freddie-starr-ate-my-hamster.html
Just because it's published doesn't mean it's true.

I suppose not. The Independent (UK newspaper) and Birmingham Mail also ran variations of the story too, but I'm not sure if they're part of the same group of newspapers that ran the original 1996 story or if they're reputable sources.  The Birmingham mail one had a photo and said it was of this girl now grown up into an adult - https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/water-allergy-girl-reaches-21st-58672

[rami999]

Because water does not trigger anaphylaxis.