Estimated 30 million affected by ‘rare diseases’

It’s Rare Disease Day on Saturday (28^th February) – the one day each year that aims to increase awareness of the circa 6,000 conditions classed as ‘rare diseases’ worldwide.

Here in Europe, a disease or disorder is classed as rare when it affects fewer than one in 2,000 people – but it’s thought the as many as 30 million people in the EU alone may be suffering from one.

Since Rare Disease Day was first launched in 2008, thousands of events have taken place throughout the world to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives.

Last year the Trust produced a ‘rare conditions handbook’ that covers a small selection of the disorders that you as ambulance staff might come across. Designed to help you with clinical decision making, it can be downloaded, printed and saved here, and includes information on conditions like Addison’s, Guillian-Barre and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome amongst others.

Learn more about Rare Disease Day by watching the 2015 official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQIeiQ7S6tQ.

Published 27th February 2015