EDS

Scurvy is a disease known since the days of long sea voyages when sailors suffered from the lack of fresh food. The disease manifested itself in fatigue, anemia, bleeding gums, bruising, and swollen joints. The link between the disease and a deficiency of something found in “acidic fruits” was established by Scottish doctor James Lind in 1747. His research showed that including citrus fruits in the diet effectively prevented and treated this condition, saving the lives of many sailors.

In medical education, emphasis is placed on the ability to think about the most likely causes of illnesses, referred to as “horses” rather than rare cases, or “zebras”. This helps to diagnose common problems more quickly, but often leads to the overlooking of rare conditions. Therefore, the symbol of rare diseases, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, is a zebra — to remind doctors of the importance of considering unusual cases. Now,Hugo let’s talk about this and other “zebras”.

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition in which mast cells in the body become excessively activated. This leads to the release of numerous chemical substances that can cause diverse symptoms affecting various systems of the body.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is often a puzzling condition, the causes of which can be extremely difficult to pinpoint, and it can significantly incapacitate individuals.