KUALA LUMPUR: "My daughter is traumatised and constantly says she is disfigured. She isolates herself in her room and refuses to meet anyone, even her cousins," lamented Azman Shah Mohammad, 44, father of Nadia Fasha Qistina, 20, who sustained severe injuries after being doused with acid while returning from work in Denai Alam on Nov 8 last year.
Azman Shah shared that since the incident, his daughter had undergone significant emotional and behavioral changes, frequently expressing that she felt disfigured.
"She often looks at herself in the mirror, saying she is not like she used to be and avoids meeting other family members, including her uncles and cousins.
"During the recent Aidiladha celebration, she refused to meet anyone and isolated herself in her room despite my attempts to persuade her. It may take a long time for her to return to her former self," he explained.
"At the same time, my wife has been diagnosed with panic attacks and is under psychiatric care due to the stress of caring for our daughter and worrying about her," he added.
Azman Shah said that Nadia Fasha Qistina sustained fourth-degree burns from the acid attack.
To date, she has undergone 11 surgeries and is scheduled for a 12th surgery soon to repair her damaged skin.
"The most severely affected areas are under her eyes and around her mouth. The doctors are performing surgeries to restore the skin in these areas," he said.
The family incurs monthly expenses of approximately RM5,000 to RM6,000 for treatments, including special creams and other necessities.
"The cost of surgeries is relatively low because we use government hospital services, but the high costs are mainly for skin care treatments," he said.
Azman Shah said that their story went viral last year, allowing them to raise about RM80,000 in public donations.
However, the total treatment costs approach RM200,000, forcing the family to sell their car and other possessions to cover Nadia's medical expenses.
Dermatologist and Aesthetic Specialist Major (B) Dr Hamidah Mohd Salleh explained that using acid to injure someone is extremely dangerous because the chemical is corrosive and can damage vital organs.
"Acid melts the skin, fat, and muscles, producing myoglobin, which then clogs the kidneys, leading to organ failure. Acid also disrupts the body's pH balance, potentially affecting heart function and causing irregular heartbeats or heart attacks," she told Harian Metro.
The extent of the damage depends on the concentration of the acid used.
"Highly concentrated acid causes immediate effects, whereas diluted acid takes longer but has the same destructive impact," she said.
Dr Hamidah said that the initial treatment for acid exposure was to rinse the affected area with running water for 20 minutes to mitigate the damage.
"Acid attack cases are common, often driven by revenge, and involve sulfuric acid. Sometimes, people use acid on themselves to gain attention after a breakup, or accidents result in acid exposure," she added.