Five Rare Diseases You’ll Hope You Never Have
It seems that every coming decade brings along a newer and deadlier disease, but in reality it’s much worse than that. We only hear about the illnesses that have an impact on a large part of the population -- we didn’t hear about AIDS until it became a worldwide epidemic.
If you look more closely, though, you'll realize that there are some terrifying cases of rare diseases popping up all over the place. And, even worse: Surveys show that these illnesses are becoming more and more common.
What are five rare diseases you’ll hope you never have? (You wouldn’t even wish these upon your worst enemy, which wouldn’t be wise since they’re likely contagious).
Note: An illness is rare if less than 200,000 people (in the U.S.) have it. There are 7,000 diseases that fit this criterion.
1. Human T-lymphotrophic Viruses (HTLV) Type 1 and 2 – These are viruses that pose a serious threat to health workers. It was identified 10 years ago and infects more than 10 percent of the population in places like:
- Japan
- Caribbean
- Southeastern Italy
- Areas of Sub-Saharan Africa
Having HTLV Type 1 isn’t all that bad in and of itself, but it could lead to any of the below:
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Certain neurological diseases
HTLV Type 2 could be much worse since very little is known about it. What is known is that the two viruses have been spreading throughout the U.S. since the mid 1980’s. The prime routes of infection can take place in the following instances:
- Infected blood
- Infected blood products
- Sexual intercourse
- Breastfeeding
What You Should Know:
Many people don’t know they have it, unless they are among the five percent that develop cancers or illnesses related to the virus. There is currently no cure.
2. Naegleria Fowleri – This is a rare parasite that enters your body through the nose while swimming underwater or diving. It then travels to the central nervous system, which then causes brain inflammation, known as Primary Amebi Meningoencephalitis. You can find these parasites in stagnant water like ponds and lakes. Symptoms caused by the parasite are:
- Fever
- Hallucinationsr
- Headaches
Only about a dozen people, out of the 400 cases of Naelgeria, have survived.
3. Addison's Disease – This rare disease is mostly found in women and children. Adults diagnosed with this disease are usually between the ages 30-50, but the disease could have been hibernating in their bodies for much longer.
Addison Disease is described as Primary Adrenocortical Insufficiency; in other words, it occurs after destruction or dysfunction of the entire adrenal cortex. The disease usually occurs when 90 percent or more of both adrenal cortices are completely destroyed or dysfunctional. This can lead to any of the following:
- Anorexia
- Nausea
- Weight Loss
- Muscle Weakness
- Skin Hyperpigmentation
What You Should Know:
Young women are four times more likely to develop Addison's disease than men.
4. Merkel Cell Carcinoma – A fast growing cancer that appears as flesh-colored or bluish-red nodules on your skin around the face, head or neck. It spreads very quickly to other parts of your body. It develops mainly in older people and those with weak immune systems. Depending on how far the cancer has gotten will determine the type of treatment needed. A newly discovered germ (or virus), Merkel Cell Polyomavirus, may be the cause of this skin cancer. The virus may create a protein that spurs cancer or blocks a gene that suppresses tumors.
People who have this cancer will notice symptoms quickly, being that it is a rapid illness. Painless nodules (tumors) on your skin will appear and will have shades of red, blue or purple; it may appear on any part of your body.
What You Should Know:
Merkel cell cancer metastasizes and spreads rapidly, and often migrates directly towards the lymph nodes. It can also invade underlying subcutaneous fat, fascia, and muscle. It may even migrate to the liver, lungs, brain or bones.
5. Clostridium Sordellii Infection – This is a rare case due to medically induced abortions (MIAs). As of the year 2000, five women have died from toxic shock caused by MIAs. Many are beginning to wonder about the safety of the combination of drugs mifepristone and misoprostol used in MIA procedures.
What You Should Know:
Death from Clostridium Sordellii is extremely rare, and deaths from early abortions (less than eight weeks) is about 1 in 1,000,000.
Sources
Last Updated : Friday, March 28, 2008