Embrace Your Stripes

Common symptoms can mask underlying rare diseases and lead to misdiagnosis and a delay of treatment

Since its inception in 2012, Rare Disease Report has stressed the phrase

“When you hear hoofbeats, don’t assume it’s a horse.”

This, of course, is a twist on former Maryland professor’s Dr Theodore Woodward’s instructions to his medical interns. Woodward insisted on thinking horses and avoiding zebras in all diagnoses, because rare diseases are just that – rare.

With RDR’s new infographic, you’ll see exactly why it’s so important to keep an open mind, though. This zebra and the 5 facts that come along with it are constant reminders to look for stripes.

More Information
  • For more information on Rare Diseases, be sure to follow Rare Disease Report on Facebook and Twitter.
  • OrphaNet, portal for rare diseases and orphan drugs, includes the Diethylstilbestrol DES syndrome as rare disease ORPHA:1916.
  • Enjoy our health infographics album on Flickr.
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