In a quiet part of Murshidabad, West Bengal, India, an unusual sight began attracting attention online. A teenage boy could be seen sitting in a pond, sometimes spending long periods surrounded by water while eating snacks and going about his day.
His name is Iqbal Sheikh, and reports say he has spent much of his time in water for several years because of an intense burning sensation affecting his skin. According to accounts published in August 2026, the cool water appears to provide him with temporary relief.
The story has quickly captured public curiosity. To some viewers, the image of a teenager seemingly choosing a pond as his everyday refuge may sound almost like something from an old folktale. Across cultures, water has long been associated with healing, renewal and transformation.
Yet there may be a much more practical explanation behind Iqbal’s unusual routine.
Reports say his family has sought help from doctors and traditional healers but has not yet received a confirmed diagnosis. Following the attention generated by videos of Iqbal, he was reportedly taken to Mumbai for specialist medical evaluation after intervention from businessman Anant Ambani.
While some doctors have reportedly considered erythromelalgia as one possible explanation, that condition has not been confirmed in Iqbal’s case. His story therefore offers an important opportunity to look at the difference between an intriguing medical possibility and an established diagnosis.
Who Is Iqbal Sheikh?
Iqbal Sheikh is a 16-year-old from Murshidabad in West Bengal. According to recent reports, he has experienced a burning sensation on his skin for approximately five years.
The discomfort reportedly becomes difficult to tolerate when he is outside the water. Remaining in a pond appears to provide some relief, which has led to his unusual daily routine.
LADbible reported that Iqbal has become known locally because of the amount of time he spends in ponds. Videos shared on social media helped bring wider attention to his situation, eventually turning a local curiosity into an international online story.
Gulf News likewise reported that Iqbal was taken to Mumbai for specialist medical assessment following intervention from Anant Ambani. The report emphasized that his exact condition had not yet been confirmed.
That distinction is important.
An unusual symptom does not automatically point to one particular medical condition. Skin sensations can have many possible causes, and specialists generally need to consider a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical examination and, where appropriate, laboratory or genetic testing before reaching a conclusion.
Why Does Water Appear to Help?
One of the most fascinating parts of Iqbal’s story is the apparent connection between water and relief.
Cool water can temporarily change how the skin feels. Temperature influences blood vessels, nerves and the way the body perceives discomfort. This means that a person experiencing heat or burning sensations may naturally seek a cooler environment.
For Iqbal, the pond may therefore function as a form of environmental cooling rather than anything mysterious or supernatural.
However, the exact reason water provides him relief remains unknown. Without a confirmed diagnosis, it would be premature to say that his experience proves he has a particular disorder.
There is also an important medical distinction between cooling the body and repeatedly immersing the skin in water. What feels soothing in the moment is not necessarily an appropriate long-term treatment.
This is one reason specialist evaluation matters so much.
Could Iqbal Have Erythromelalgia?
One condition mentioned in reports discussing Iqbal’s symptoms is erythromelalgia, a rare disorder associated with episodes of burning discomfort, warmth and redness.
The NHS explains that erythromelalgia most commonly affects the feet, although the hands, arms, legs, ears and face can also be involved. Symptoms may include burning sensations, warmth, redness, swelling and increased sweating. Episodes can vary in duration and may be triggered by factors such as exercise, warm temperatures, stress or dehydration.
This makes erythromelalgia an interesting possibility to consider when discussing Iqbal’s symptoms.
But there is a major caveat: Iqbal Sheikh has not been publicly confirmed as having erythromelalgia.
That means articles and social media posts should avoid presenting the condition as an established explanation. At this stage, it is better described as one medical possibility that specialists may investigate.
A proper diagnosis would require doctors to determine whether Iqbal’s symptoms match the clinical characteristics of erythromelalgia or another condition.
What Causes Erythromelalgia?
Scientists understand more about erythromelalgia than its name might suggest, but the condition can still be challenging to diagnose and manage.
According to the NHS, the underlying cause is not always clear. In some people, it may be associated with another condition, while certain cases can involve inherited genetic changes. Specialists may therefore investigate both symptoms and possible underlying causes.
The condition is also associated with changes involving blood flow and temperature regulation in affected areas. When symptoms flare, the skin can feel unusually warm and uncomfortable.
Interestingly, cooling is often associated with symptom relief. However, the NHS specifically advises against using very cold water or ice because excessive cooling can damage the skin. Instead, it suggests gentler approaches such as using a fan or a cool gel pack for a short period.
This is particularly relevant when considering Iqbal’s story.
His experience may demonstrate how strongly people naturally seek relief from uncomfortable physical sensations. At the same time, his long periods in a pond should not be interpreted as evidence that prolonged water immersion is a treatment for erythromelalgia.
The Difference Between Relief and Treatment
One of the most important lessons from Iqbal’s story is the difference between something that provides temporary comfort and something that treats an underlying condition.
Imagine touching a cool surface when your skin feels hot. The sensation may immediately feel better. That does not necessarily explain why the discomfort appeared in the first place.
The same principle can apply to many symptoms.
Cooling can influence the way discomfort is experienced, but it may not address the underlying cause. Medical treatment depends on identifying what is producing the symptoms.
For erythromelalgia, the NHS notes that treatment depends on the cause and may involve different combinations of medicines, creams, gels, tablets or other approaches. Finding an effective plan can require adjustments over time.
This is why the reported specialist evaluation in Mumbai could be an important development for Iqbal and his family.
Water in Myth, Culture and Traditional Healing
Iqbal’s story also touches on something much older than modern medicine: humanity’s relationship with water.
For thousands of years, rivers, springs, lakes and ponds have held special places in cultural traditions around the world. Water has often been associated with purification, renewal, fertility and healing.
In many traditional belief systems, natural springs were considered places where people could seek comfort or spiritual renewal. Stories of people entering sacred waters to feel restored appear across different cultures.
These traditions help explain why an unusual story involving a pond can feel so compelling.
However, cultural symbolism and medical evidence are two different things.
A pond may carry deep meaning within a community, but that does not establish a medical mechanism. Likewise, modern medicine does not necessarily invalidate the cultural importance of water. Both perspectives can be discussed respectfully as long as they are not confused with one another.
In Iqbal’s situation, the most reasonable scientific interpretation is that water may be providing a cooling effect that temporarily changes how his skin feels.
Why Rare Conditions Can Be Difficult to Diagnose
Rare medical conditions can present significant diagnostic challenges.
Some symptoms overlap with several different disorders. A burning skin sensation, for example, could potentially involve the skin, nerves, circulation, environmental triggers or another underlying factor.
The NHS notes that people suspected of having erythromelalgia may be referred to a specialist. Doctors can examine symptoms and may use blood tests or genetic testing depending on the circumstances.
This illustrates why online speculation should remain cautious.
A photograph or short video can show what a person is doing, but it cannot reveal everything happening inside the body. Even a symptom that appears very distinctive may require detailed medical investigation.
For Iqbal, specialist assessment could therefore provide information that social media cannot.
What Happens Next for Iqbal Sheikh?
According to Gulf News, Iqbal was brought to Mumbai for specialized medical evaluation after his story attracted wider attention.
The next stage is likely to focus on understanding the cause of his symptoms rather than simply giving the situation a label.
Doctors may need to examine when the burning sensation begins, what parts of the body are affected, whether warmth makes it worse, whether cooling consistently provides relief and whether other symptoms occur at the same time.
His medical history and previous evaluations could also help specialists build a clearer picture.
Until those assessments are completed, the most responsible conclusion is simple: Iqbal’s condition remains undiagnosed in the public information currently available.
Erythromelalgia may be one possibility, but it should not be treated as a confirmed diagnosis.
A Story That Reminds Us to Look Beyond the Unusual
It is easy to focus on the extraordinary image of a teenager spending hours in a pond. The sight naturally invites questions.
Why does he stay there?
Why does the water help?
Could there be an unusual explanation?
These questions are part of what makes the story so compelling. But behind the curiosity is a teenager and a family searching for answers.
Rather than turning an unfamiliar medical situation into a mystery or legend, the better approach is to combine compassion with scientific curiosity.
Iqbal’s story also demonstrates how social media can sometimes draw attention to circumstances that might otherwise remain largely unknown. The attention surrounding his case reportedly helped connect him with specialist care in Mumbai.
That does not mean every viral medical story should be accepted without scrutiny. In fact, the opposite is true. Viral stories deserve careful verification precisely because they can spread faster than reliable medical information.
Final Thoughts: Why Human Curiosity Matters
The story of Iqbal Sheikh begins with a simple but extraordinary image: a teenager sitting in a pond because the water seems to offer relief from an unexplained burning sensation.
It is understandable that such a scene would inspire curiosity. Water has carried powerful cultural meanings for centuries, while modern medicine continues to investigate the remarkable ways the human body responds to temperature, nerves and circulation.
For now, science does not have a confirmed answer for Iqbal’s condition based on the publicly available reports. Erythromelalgia is one possibility that has been discussed, but only a proper medical evaluation can determine whether it applies to him.
Perhaps the most meaningful part of this story is not the mystery itself, but the search for an answer.
Human curiosity encourages us to ask questions. Science gives us methods for investigating them. And compassion reminds us that behind every unusual story is a real person whose experience deserves to be understood with care, patience and dignity.
Sources
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NHS: Erythromelalgia — Information on symptoms, possible causes, triggers, diagnosis and treatment.
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Gulf News: West Bengal teen living in pond airlifted to Mumbai — Recent reporting on Iqbal Sheikh’s case and his reported specialist evaluation.
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LADbible: Teenage boy who has been ‘living in pond’ for five years — Recent reporting describing Iqbal’s experience and the attention surrounding his story.
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Cleveland Clinic: Erythromelalgia information — Medical background on erythromelalgia and approaches to symptom management.