What are rare diseases?

Rare diseases, also known as orphan diseases, are classified as such in many countries when they affect no more than 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 5,000 people. This can vary depending on the region or healthcare system. In the EU, a disease is considered “rare” if it affects no more than 1 in 2,000 people.

It is estimated that there are six to ten thousand rare diseases. The trend is rising due to advanced diagnostics – which also applies to the number of people affected. The diseases can be genetic, infectious or environmental in nature. Many rare diseases begin in childhood, some develop later. They are often life-threatening or chronic and have a significant impact on the quality of life of those affected.

LIST OF RARE DISEASES (DE)

How many people are affected by rare diseases?

Each individual disease may be rare in itself, but rare diseases as a whole affect a significant number of people worldwide. As rare diseases are often unrecognized or misdiagnosed, it is very likely that the actual number of people affected is even higher. Furthermore, the impact of a rare disease affects not only the patients themselves, but also their families, caregivers and society as a whole, as these diseases are often associated with high levels of stress and special challenges.

How can research save lives of those suffering from rare diseases?

The vast majority of rare diseases are virtually unexplored, which is why treatment options are generally limited to the treatment of symptoms. Curative treatment approaches and specific drugs are absolute exceptions. These are also known as orphan drugs because they are intended for the proverbial “orphans of medicine.”

First hand account

However, the story of the Bopp family shows what research can achieve. Within the space of a few weeks, the previously bright three-year-old lost everything he had learned up to that point. A pediatrician discovered that Sebastian was suffering from a rare genetic defect and developed a successful therapy. It allows his sisters, who are also affected, to grow up without symptoms and gives Sebastian a piece of his old life back.

RARE DISEASES IN CHILDREN

From rare to common – why do rare diseases affect us all?

Anyone who understands the mechanisms behind a rare disease can often deduce the causes of common conditions such as obesity, heart failure and bone diseases. Leading scientists are convinced that research into rare diseases will pave the way for the personalized precision medicine of tomorrow.

This is also reflected in the fact that modern diagnostics are increasingly defining subtypes of common diseases that are formally considered rare.