Killeen Boy With Rare Medical Condition Meets Child With Same Sy - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas

(KCEN) -- A Killeen boy struggling with a rare medical condition got the chance to meet someone just like himself living less than 150 miles away.

Antonio Laguna is just six-years-old and is one of about 70 kids across the globe known to be suffering with a syndrome called ROHHAD.

Sixteen-year-old San Antonio resident Josh Wooten found out he had ROHHAD in 2005.

The two were finally able to meet Wednesday in San Antonio and discussed the disorder that still has doctors puzzled.

ROHHAD stands for or Rapid-onset Obesity with Hypothalamic dysfunction, Hypoventilation and Autonomic Dysregualtion.

It affects the brain's ability to send messages to the body.

"Children typically develop Rapid-onset obesity around age three or four and then they develop a problem breathing and basically they're brain forgets to tell them to breath," said Pediatric Pulmonary Specialist Kelly J. Smith.

They also often have difficulty retaining fluid and producing hormones.

Doctors have not yet figured out what causes ROHHAD but believe it may be hereditary.

For more information about ROHHAD, take a look at these links.

For very detailed medical studies on conditions that must first be ruled OUT before ruling IN ROHHAD: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/1/e179.full

For a brief a brief question and answer article on ROHHAD: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/QnASelected.aspx?diseaseID=10407

For a concise checklist for ROHHAD: http://www.rareshare.org/communities/rapid-onset-obesity-with-hypothalamic-dysfunction--hypoventilation-and-autonomic-dysregulation/details

Reporter- Tiffany Lundberg

Photographer- Rocky Bridges