Rare Disease Day

Rare Disease Day is a worldwide holiday dedicated to raising awareness of rare diseases. It is celebrated annually on the last day of February (the 28th or 29th). We all know about some known diseases and try our best to avoid them (heart problems, AIDS, etc.), but there are many different syndromes and abnormalities that only dozens or hundreds of people suffer from. For this reason, we know next to nothing about these diseases, and the holiday is designed to fix that!

History

Rare Disease Day was first celebrated in 2008. It was supported by EURORDIS and was aimed at raising public awareness of rare diseases. Over time, the holiday has gained recognition throughout the world and is celebrated everywhere. On this day you can undergo free examinations, take tests, listen to interesting lectures about any diseases, and talk with experienced doctors.

Nearly 100 countries participate in Rare Disease Day celebrations. Thanks to the joint efforts of doctors from all over the world, it has become possible to create drugs that can help in the treatment of rare diseases, because work in this direction is carried out quite slowly.

Modern medicine identifies dozens of rare diseases. Most often they are infectious or genetically determined. To effectively treat each of these requires extensive research, which is often simply not possible on the basis of one or more patients.

Interesting facts

• Juner-Tan syndrome is an unusual abnormality that seems to turn evolution around. People with this syndrome are deprived of the ability to move on two limbs. There is very little information about the disease and its prevalence.
• Hutchison’s disease is the most common rare disease. A person after birth begins to age very quickly, although the development of personality remains at a childlike level. Such people live to be 10 or 13 years old and die with the appearance of old men. In all, there are about 80 cases of this disease in the world.

How to celebrate

At Rare Disease Day, explore more information about rare diseases by learning what is currently known about their nature. Get a medical examination. Rare diseases you are unlikely to find, but it never hurts to make sure your personal health.

Spread the word on social media. Ask other users if they or anyone they know has a rare disease. Find out how you can help them with their treatment.

When is Rare Disease Day celebrated in 2024?

Rare Disease Day is observed on February 28 each year.

Observations