Why is it called rare disease if so many people have it?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the terminology used in the phrase 'rare disease' despite the fact that a significant number of people may be affected by such diseases. This prompts a discussion about definitions and classifications of diseases based on prevalence.
Answer
Rare diseases affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S., but collectively impact many.
A rare disease is defined by its prevalence in the population, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Although individual rare diseases are uncommon, collectively they affect many people, leading to the misconception that they aren’t rare.
Answer for screen readers
A rare disease is defined by its prevalence in the population, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Although individual rare diseases are uncommon, collectively they affect many people, leading to the misconception that they aren’t rare.
More Information
The term 'rare disease' refers to the prevalence of a individual disease in a given population. Even though there are many types of rare diseases collectively affecting many people, each specific disease remains rare.
Tips
Confusing rare diseases with common diseases due to their collective impact can mislead perceptions.
Sources
- Rare Diseases FAQ - National Human Genome Research Institute - genome.gov
- Rare & Orphan Diseases - Cleveland Clinic - my.clevelandclinic.org
- Rare disease - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
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