We have all heard about diseases, seen someone with one, and have personally gotten sick, hardly ever encountered a rare disease. In the non-medical world, people use disease interchangeably to mean infection, illness, disease, or something similar. In the medical world, a disease is an abnormal condition that disrupts bodily functions and is often associated with certain signs and symptoms.
Rare diseases, also called orphan diseases, are those that are extremely rare and often have such a low prevalence that the average doctor will not see more than one case of the disease in a year. Here is a list of 10 diseases that rarely affect people.
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1. Morgellons
Today, Morgellons stands as a poorly understood disease that some doctors believe is a chronic infectious disease. Unfortunately, the disease is usually disfiguring as well as disabling. The disease is characterized by stinging, itching or crawling sensations, filaments growing out of the skin, and skin lesions, as well as memory loss, joint discoloration, and fatigue. Morgellons is still not recognized by the entire medical community, but there are approximately 2,000 people in the United States who are believed to have the disease. Some of the news stories are children who can't do normal things like go to school or play sports.
2. Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP)
Although there are many forms of pemphigus, paraneoplastic pemphigus is the least common and most serious. Epidemic keratinocytes separate from each other and leave gaps. Often the cavities fill with fluid, leaving the skin raw and open to infection. These blisters usually appear in the mouth, throat, lips, and random areas of the skin. The disease is also extremely fatal, with 90% of those diagnosed with the disease dying from sepsis, multi-organ failure, or the cancer that caused the disease.
3. Microcephaly
Microcephaly is a very rare condition that is noticeable immediately at birth, sometimes even before. It affects 1 in 666,666 in the United States. With microcephaly, the brain does not develop properly or, in some cases, stops growing while the baby is still in the womb. This causes the head to be smaller than a normal baby's head at birth. Many believe that this disease is caused by exposure to harmful substances in the womb, exposure to radiation, or genetic problems. The disease is usually combined with Down syndrome. Those who suffer from microcephaly are usually mentally retarded and will have problems with hyperactivity, dwarfism, seizures, balance problems, speech and motor problems and others.
4. Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)
Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is reported to occur in one in 35,000 people. It is an extremely rare genetic condition characterized by the growth of tumors in various parts of the body. Most tumors will grow within the central nervous system and are often benign, but are made up of blood vessels. Medically known as hemangioblastoma, these tumors can begin to grow in the retina, brain, and spinal cord. Various tumors are also known to grow in the pancreas, adrenal glands and kidneys. If left untreated, the disease can lead to stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular disease.
5. Dry
As rare as it is, Kuru is a fatal disease. However, it is so rare that the disease is confined to one area in New Guinea, more specifically the Fore tribe, who live in the highlands. The disease was caused by cannibalism, a ritual practice in which other people's tissues, particularly brains, are consumed by cooking. Sufferers are usually unable to eat or stand, then die in a coma about 6 to 12 months later. About 1,100 Kuru people are said to have died in the 1950s and 60s. Due to government intervention and widespread efforts to end cannibalism, the Kuru have now largely disappeared.
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