Cancer, heart disease, the common cold — these medical conditions are well-known by the public, in part, because they affect large numbers of people. But did you know there's a genetic condition that causes babies to suddenly lose all their fat after birth? Or an aggressive autoimmune disorder that can cause the bridge of the nose to collapse? Or a disease that causes the skin to blister under even the lightest pressure? Every week at Live Science, we call attention to a rare disorder that may not be widely known, describing its symptoms, treatments, causes and recent cases that caught our attention.
Latest about rare diseases
The exceptionally rare disease that causes holes to form in your brain
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is an extremely rare and fatal brain-wasting disease that's like a human version of "mad cow."
People with this rare genetic condition can't repair damage to their DNA
LIG4 syndrome is an exceptionally rare disorder caused by a genetic mutation that prevents the body from repairing damaged DNA.
What is alkaptonuria? The rare disease that turns your pee black
Alkaptonuria is an unusual disorder caused by a defect in protein metabolism.
What is Capnocytophaga? How an innocent dog lick can trigger a fatal infection
Capnocytophaga infections in humans are rare, especially in historically healthy individuals, but when it occurs, the disease can be deadly.
Argyria: The rare disease that turns people blue
Argyria is caused by a buildup of silver in the body, which discolors the skin.
Tularemia: The 'rabbit fever' that can fatally infect humans
Tularemia, or "rabbit fever," is an infectious disease that normally affects animals but can spread to humans, sometimes via tick and deer fly bites.
Situs inversus: The condition where your organs are on the 'wrong' side
Situs inversus is a rare genetic condition that causes the organs in the chest and abdomen to be located on the opposite side from where they're usually found, like a mirror image.
Frosted branch angiitis: A rare eye condition that makes the retina look like a frosted tree
Frosted branch angiitis is a rare condition that makes the blood vessels that supply the retina look like the frosted branches of a tree.
