An Overview on Rare Diseases

By Arin Bhattacharya

A rare disease, also referred to as an orphan disease, is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population. In the United States, the Rare Diseases Act of 2002 defines rare disease strictly according to prevalence, specifically "any disease or condition that affects less than 200,000 people in the United States," or about 1 in 1,500 people. This definition is essentially like that of the Orphan Drug Act of 1983, a federal law that was written to encourage research into rare diseases and possible cures. In Japan, the legal definition of a rare disease is one that affects fewer than 50,000 patients in Japan, or about 1 in 2,500 people.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1312669330
• ISBN13: 9781312669338
• Release Date: November 2014
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Length: 60 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.5" x 11.0"