Rare diseases?
Haley Joe
For a big 300 point science project, we have to research a type of disease. I want to do one that is very rare and a lot of people haven’t heard of it so it won’t be chosen… Suggestions?
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I suggest cellulitis. It’s not extremely rare, but i guarantee you many people haven’t heard of it. It is a rather painful infection that often happens on the legs, and produces redness, swelling, and open sores. It is very difficult to get rid of, and requires weeks of daily antibiotic infusions at a clinic. It can be caused by something as simple as having a cut on your leg, and getting dirty water in it, like from a water bed that hasn’t been properly maintained. I won’t tell you anything else, i gotta leave you something to research. good luck and have fun with it.
Sleeping Sickness. Caused by the parasited Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, it occurs only in Sub Saharan Africa, is transmitted by the tsetse fly, is fatal if untreated and is a major constraint on economic and agricultural development.
Most people havent heard of that, and it is a really interesting topic.
I don’t know what my son’s diagnosis is after almost 500 different tests. He’s been a patient at children’s hospital in Pittsburgh for 2 years now. He started limping 2 years ago. I took him to the doctor and an MRI showed he has lesions on his spine and brain. I can’t remember all the tests he had done but I know he had 10 MRI of brain and total spine. He’s had 4 CSFs. Tons of blood drawn, EEG, EKG all kinds of stuff. The Doctor finally told us that this is some sort of inflammation of unknown origin. We will never have a name for his condition and it is effecting his nervous system. The newest Dr. we have now told us the are calling him the X child. Don’t know if this helps unless you are researching a mysterious form of a disease with no name.
i got a great one for you!!!! use this i have it it is called transverse myelitis there is no cure maybe it might even open some doors for a cure if others read into itTransverse Myelitis is a rare neurological disorder that is part of a spectrum of neuroimmunologic diseases of the central nervous system. Other disorders in this spectrum include, Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Optic Neuritis, and Neuromyelitis Optica (Devic’s disease). The membership of The Transverse Myelitis Association includes persons with all of these disorders, their family members and caregivers and the medical professionals who treat people with these disorders.
The Transverse Myelitis Association was established in 1994 as an organization dedicated to advocacy for those who have these rare neuroimmunologic diseases. It was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1996
Transverse myelitis (TM) is a neurologic syndrome caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. TM is uncommon but not rare. Conservative estimates of incidence per year vary from 1 to 5 per million population (Jeffery, et.al., 1993). The term myelitis is a nonspecific term for inflammation of the spinal cord; transverse refers to involvement across one level of the spinal cord. It occurs in both adults and children. You may also hear the term myelopathy, which is a more general term for any disorder of the spinal cord.
Clinical Symptoms
TM symptoms develop rapidly over several hours to several weeks. Approximately 45% of patients worsen maximally within 24 hours (Ibid.). The spinal cord carries motor nerve fibers to the limbs and trunk and sensory fibers from the body back to the brain. Inflammation within the spinal cord interrupts these pathways and causes the common presenting symptoms of TM which include limb weakness, sensory disturbance, bowel and bladder dysfunction, back pain and radicular pain (pain in the distribution of a single spinal nerve).
Almost all patients will develop leg weakness of varying degrees of severity. The arms are involved in a minority of cases and this is dependent upon the level of spinal cord involvement. Sensation is diminished below the level of spinal cord involvement in the majority of patients. Some experience tingling or numbness in the legs. Pain (ascertained as appreciation of pinprick by the neurologist) and temperature sensation are diminished in the majority of patients. Appreciation of vibration (as caused by a tuning fork) and joint position sense may also be decreased or spared. Bladder and bowel sphincter control are disturbed in the majority of patients. Many patients with TM report a tight banding or girdle-like sensation around the trunk and that area may be very sensitive to touch.
Recovery may be absent, partial or complete and generally begins within 1 to 3 months. Significant recovery is unlikely, if no improvement occurs by 3 months (Feldman, et. al., 1981). Most patients with TM show good to fair recovery. TM is generally a monophasic illness (one-time occurrence); however, a small percentage of patients may suffer a recurrence, especially if there is a predisposing underlying illness.
Causes of Transverse Myelopathy and Myelitis-
Transverse myelitis may occur in isolation or in the setting of another illness. When it occurs without apparent underlying cause, it is referred to as idiopathic. Idiopathic transverse myelitis is assumed to be a result of abnormal activation of the immune system against the spinal cord. A list of illnesses associated with TM includesWhat is Transverse Myelitis?
Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation across both sides of one level, or segment, of the spinal cord. The segment of the spinal cord at which the damage occurs determines which parts of the body are affected. Damage at one segment will affect function at that segment and segments below it. In people with transverse myelitis, inflammation usually occurs at the thoracic (upper back) level, causing problems with leg movement and bowel and bladder control, which require signals from the lower segments of the spinal cord. What usually begins as a sudden onset of lower back pain, muscle weakness, or abnormal sensations in the toes and feet can rapidly progress to more severe symptoms, including paralysis, urinary retention, and loss of bowel control.
Is there any treatment?
No effective cure currently exists for people with transverse myelitis. Physicians often prescribe corticosteroid therapy during the first few weeks of illness to decrease inflammation. Following initial therapy, the most critical part of the treatment for this disorder consists of keeping the patient’s body functioning while hoping for either complete or partial spontaneous recovery of the nervous system. If an individual begins to recover limb control, physical therapy begins to help improve muscle strength, coordination, and range of motion.
What is the prognosis?
Recovery from transverse myelitis usually begins within 2 to 12 weeks of the onset of symptoms and may continue for up to 2 years. However, if there is no improvement within the first 3 to 6 months, significant recovery is unlikely. About one-third of people affected with transverse myelitis experience good or full recovery from their symptoms. Another one-third show only fair recovery and are left with significant deficits. The remaining one-third show no recovery at all, with marked dependence on others for basic functions of daily living.
What research is being done?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts research related to transverse myelitis in its laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and also supports additional transverse myelitis research through grants to major medical institutions across the country. Some studies focus on strategies to repair the spinal cord, including approaches using cell transplantation. The NINDS also funds researchers who are using animal models of spinal cord injury to study strategies for replacement or regeneration of spinal cord nerve cells. The knowledge gained from such research should lead to a greater knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for transverse myelitis and may ultimately provide a means to prevent and treat this disorder
trust me no one will even know what this is it is not known through out the world not many have it i think it would be a good science project!!!
good luck