Rare diseases — Medical conditions you may never have heard of before

Latest about rare diseases

Two hands side-by-side on what looks like a white blanket. The hand on the left is noticeably smaller than the hand on the right.

Acromegaly: A disease that causes adults to grow uncontrollably

By Emily Cooke published

Patients with acromegaly make too much growth hormone, which causes them to grow disproportionately large bones, organs and tissues.

Viruses, Infections & Disease
Composite image of a skeleton of a person who had FOP against a black background which is presented in front of a blurred, enlarged version of the same image.

Stone man disease: A rare condition that causes a person to grow a second skeleton

By Emily Cooke published

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an extremely rare congenital condition that causes the body to grow a second skeleton, rendering patients immobile.

Viruses, Infections & Disease
A patient wearing many bandages on their arms and stomach

Butterfly disease: A disorder that makes skin as delicate as butterfly wings

By Emily Cooke published

Epidermolysis bullosa is a potentially fatal, inherited disorder that causes patients to blister very easily.

Viruses, Infections & Disease
an illustration of Streptococcus bacteria

Necrotizing fasciitis: The 'flesh-eating' infection that bores holes in the body

By Emily Cooke published

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare, life-threatening illness caused by bacteria that aggressively attack the soft tissue of the body.

Viruses, Infections & Disease
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