Meet Fred James, the 3-year-old boy who cannot sweat...[could die from overheating]

Three-year-old Fred James suffers from a rare genetic condition which means he was born without sweat glands and can't sweat. If Fred gets too hot and overheats, he could suffer a fatal fit.

Parents Jon James, 39, and Sarah Jones, 33, from Truro, Cornwall, have to ensure their son keeps cool by using fans, water sprays and ice packs.

Miss Jones, who is Fred's full time carer, said: 'We do everything possible so he doesn't over heat. It means he has to be watched all the time. 'He's had convulsions when he's overheated. They're horrific. It's extremely scary.'

The couple, who also have a 13-month-old son Alex that doesn't have the condition, were then referred to a specialist in Cardiff who told them Fred doesn't have any sweat glands.

They have now learnt to spot the tell-tale signs he is overheating and react quickly.

Miss Jones said: 'He goes pink and his ears go red. 'Sometimes when he is running around he won't realise he is getting too hot so I get him to stop and have a drink.

'I pretend to accidentally spill some water over him and make it into a game. 'I'll soak his t-shirt in cold water and I keep a sun hat in my bag.

'When I know it's going to be really hot, I plan things to do inside. 'We always have the windows open and we keep the heating off.

'Summer is always a worry. Everyone loves the hot weather but it's hard for us. I dread it in a way.'

Diana Perry, Chief Executive of the Ectodermal Dysplasia Society, said: 'Overheating is the biggest worry as it will lead to fits and ultimately death if not monitored properly.

'There can also be problems in the winter months in maintaining an adequate body temperature, i.e. they get too cold and have difficulty in warming up.

'The other major symptom is lack of teeth. Some children have no baby teeth at all and maybe a few adult teeth. The teeth they do have are often pointed requiring dentures or implants in the future.

'The hair is often thin and fine also causing a problem with peers. Nails, skin, eyes, ears, respiratory tract and many other areas are often affected. 'We promote that children live a near normal lifestyle, but they can only do this if the correct procedures are put in place to help them.'

Other symptoms include fair and sparse hair, respiratory problems and very dry skin. There is currently no known cure.