Ghana has recorded its first case of Wilson’s Disease, a genetic disorder causing excessive copper accumulation in organs like the liver, brain, and eyes.

The Child Health Department at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra identified the condition in a 13-year-old boy, marking it as the country’s first documented instance.

The boy’s diagnosis followed his mother’s observation of his deteriorating handwriting, which led to further medical investigation. Wilson’s Disease, a potentially fatal genetic disorder, affects approximately one in 30,000 people in developed countries.

It results from the body’s inability to eliminate copper properly, causing toxic buildup.

Symptoms, which generally appear between ages 12 and 23, include swelling, fatigue, abdominal pain, and poorly coordinated movements.