The 101 Most Unusual Diseases and Disorders

This book explores serious diseases and disorders that most readers have never heard of, ranging from genetic, infectious, and environmental diseases to autoimmune, idiopathic, and mental disorders. Despite centuries of scientific study and medical research, there are still many human diseases and disorders that remain difficult to manage or are incurable. Some of these maladies are extremely rare, yet, together, they affect a substantial number of people. The 101 Most Unusual Diseases and Disorders examines seldom-seen illnesses, providing high school and college students with an excellent resource for research as well as supplying fascinating reading for general readers interested in diseases and medical science. This book provides clear, easy-to-understand, and scientifically grounded information on the vast number of unusual medical conditions that have been recorded, covering five kinds of diseases and disorders: genetic, infectious, environmental, mental, and "other," which constitutes diseases of autoimmune and unknown origin. Examples of the medical conditions addressed include autoimmune encephalitis, Ebola, kleptomania, Morgellons syndrome, orthorexia, pneumoconiosis, and Prader-Willi syndrome. Selected case studies enable readers to better empathize with the experiences of those who have these disorders and how these afflictions have affected their lives. Provides readers with interesting facts and insights into unusual or rarely seen diseases and disorders from the perspective of an experienced medical writer Supplies accessible information for students and general readers and serves as a jumping-off point for further research into an unusual topic or disorder Addresses a topic of high interest due to recent media attention on deadly contagious diseases such as Ebola as well as popular television shows that focus on uncommon and interesting medical conditions like House and Mystery Diagnosis Includes case studies that serve to "personalize" the content by highlighting the experiences of individuals affected by a particular disease