In 2016, the world medical news was dominated by a baffling discovery made in Pakistan: three brothers in the Mian Kundi village near Quetta, Balochistan, started developing a strange and distinctive condition. Shoaib Ahmed (13), Abdul Rasheed (9) and their younger brother Mohammed Ilyas (1) had the title of the solar kids since they were normal and energetic children as long as the sun was shining. But, as the sun was going down, they would sink slowly along into a condition of utter paralysis, they could neither move, nor speak, nor eat, nor answer, until the next day, at sunrise. The true story, diagnosis, and present-day details behind Pakistan’s ‘solar kids’ medical mystery is right here; continue reading.
What is “Solar Paralysis”? Is There Such a Condition?
Although the media termed the situation as solar paralysis, the experts had to explain that it is not the sunlight that causes the condition directly. The children were active in hospitals, notwithstanding the absence of direct sunlight, and they would close down regularly at nightfall, whether or not there was lighting. Medical researchers are convinced that this disease can be attributed to an internal biological clock (circadian rhythm) or to some individual brain chemistry, but a diagnosis is not yet described in any textbook. This Pakistani case is currently being examined in global medical literature and the researchers are debating on naming the syndrome after the family.
First Medical Investigations (2016)
Their case shook not only their village and family but also major hospitals in Pakistan. Local treatments and home remedies failed and the children were admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad. An exclusive medical board under Dr. Javed Akram was immediately exposed to exhaustive investigations, which conducted more than 300 tests including extensive genetic, metabolic and environmental investigations.
Theories and Diagnoses
Initially, physicians had guessed congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) which is an infrequent neurotransmitter disorder leading to muscular tiredness, yet the classic phenotypic characteristics and sex ratio did not entirely coincide. Extensive DNA studies and research partnerships with international organizations, such as Johns Hopkins ( USA ) and Guys Hospital ( London ) redirected interest to a potential specific kind of neurotransmitter deficiency, which was probably initiated or coordinated by the circadian rhythm of the children. Environmental toxins and infectious disease were also eliminated after village-wide sampling by researchers.
Continued Therapy and Improvement
By 2016, the children began to respond to international aid and medical intervention, showing some improvements. The drugs that targeted those neurotransmitter functions enabled the children to stay active into the night- even up to 10 PM as opposed to being paralyzed during sunset. In PIMS their progress was closely observed and the treatment plan was modified periodically according to the further test results. The family spent some years in Islamabad as outpatients.
What Happened Next? (2017–2025)
As per a linkedin post of Dr Fahad Gul, a neurologist, the Pakistani government stepped in to cover the treatment costs for the three brothers. The precise genetic origin remains unknown to researchers (as of the last available updates), but the brothers have been reported to respond positively to the treatment, according to the subsequent news and social media reports. Through further treatment, the intensity and occurrence of their paralysis attacks diminished significantly, and they were said to be able to live more normal lives, by going to school and participating in the daily activities, even after the sun went down. The family is under medical observation.
This case of the solar kids has since been included in the international medical literature as a rare and unique example of neurochemical disorder linked to circadian. Their tale has been a treasure trove of understanding of genetics, chronobiology and why global collaboration is necessary in finding solutions to rare childhood diseases.
Where Are They Now?
According to the most recent trustworthy news reports and community news reports (as of 2025), these brothers have begun to lead healthier lifestyles, are in school, and encounter fewer nighttime issues. Their case is also used often in pediatric neurology in South Asia. At PIMS, medical teams keep tracking the family and also provide their feedback in the global scientific community.
What Medical Experts Say About Solar Kids?
- Genetics and Neurology: The parents are first cousins, and so, a doctor suspects a rare inherited neurological condition. Much like this there are similar circadian-related neurological conditions diagnosed but nothing of this scale.
- Environmental Factors: Air, Water and Soil tests were conducted to eliminate toxins but awaiting results.
- Treatment Progress: Early medication using neurotransmitters is said to be helping the children to remain awake and active later in the night.
What It Means to Medical Students and Professionals?
The case has demonstrated the significance of clinical reasoning, interdisciplinary teamwork, and open investigation when encountering rare diseases. It also reinforces that:
- Symptoms that are supernatural are not necessarily mystical, science and systematic testing should be in the forefront.
- International knowledge sharing and genetic research is an advantage to unsolved cases.
- Rare syndromes may involve all three: societal, environmental and familial factors.
In conclusion, The solar kids case is an example that medicine is still full of mysteries and the next discovery could start with curiosity, cooperation and kindness.
The case of the “solar kids” is a deep case study to a medical practitioner, teaching us the significance of interdisciplinary investigation, genetics, and international sharing of medical knowledge. It is a lesson in lifelong learning of compassionate, innovative patient care when healthcare providers face the unknown.
