Rare Disease Day

Rare Disease Day is a worldwide holiday dedicated to raising awareness of rare diseases. It is annually on the last day of February (the 28th or 29th). We all know about some common 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 in 2008. It was supported by EURORDIS and aimed at raising public awareness of rare diseases. Over time, the holiday has gained recognition throughout the world and is everywhere. On this day, you can undergo free examinations, take tests, listen to interesting lectures about various 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 often slow.

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

• Unertan 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.
• Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome is one of the most well-known rare diseases. A person ages rapidly after birth, though their cognitive development remains normal. Such individuals live to be around 10 or 13 years old and die with the appearance of elderly people. There are about 80 known cases of this disease worldwide.

How to celebrate

On Rare Disease Day, explore more information about rare diseases by learning what is currently known about their nature. Get a medical examination. While you are unlikely to find a rare disease, it never hurts to ensure 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 in 2025?

Rare Disease Day is observed on the last day of February each year.

Observations