Top 5 Undiagnosed Diseases

There are many people suffering from diseases that have remained undiagnosed for extended periods of time. Unfortunately there is not a magic button that doctors can push to expedite the diagnosis process and when the condition is complex the diagnosis can be hard to reach. There are 5 diseases that doctors have a hard time accurately diagnosing. Hemochromatosis, Lyme disease, Celiac disease, Polycystic Ovary syndrome and Lupus all have complex symptoms that mimic other conditions. This is why they are the top 5 undiagnosed diseases.

HEMOCHROMATOSIS

Hemochromatosis is the most common form of iron overload disease and the most common genetic disease in the United States. There are two main types of the disease. Primary Hemochromatosis is inherited and Secondary Hemochromatosis is caused by anemia, alcoholism and other disorders.

Hemochromatosis causes the body to absorb too much iron and this can cause liver, heart and pancreas failure if the disease is left untreated.

Hemochromatosis is hard to diagnose because the early symptoms of the disease are stiff joints and fatigue. These symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions that are far more common than Hemochromatosis.

LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks carry the disease and it is the most common arthropod illness in the United States.

Symptoms of Lyme disease are "bulls-eye" rash, fever, headache, muscle pain, stiff neck and swelling of the knees and other large joints.

Although it is extremely common, Lyme disease is still hard to diagnose because of the many manifestations of the disease and the limitations of blood tests.

CELIAC DISEASE

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with nutrient absorption from food. Those who have Celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, so when gluten is eaten, the immune system responds by damaging the small intestine.

Symptoms vary widely from person to person and some may never experience any symptoms at all. Common complaints from those who do experience symptoms are intermittent diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating. Other less obvious symptoms are irritability or depression, anemia, stomach upset, joint pain, muscle cramps, skin rash, mouth sores, dental and bone disorders and tingling legs and feet.

According to C. Robert Dohl, M.D., Celiac disease is one of the greatest mimics in gastroenterology. It tends to mimic other conditions such as Irritable Bowel syndrome and therefore makes diagnosis a little more difficult.

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, excess hair growth and obesity. The exact cause is unknown, but it originates from a disruption in the monthly reproductive cycle. PCOS is the leading cause of infertility in women.

PCOS symptoms are infrequent, absent or irregular menstrual cycle, infertility, increased hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, back, thumbs and toes, ovarian cysts, acne, oily skin or dandruff, weight gain or obesity, insulin resistance or Type 2 Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, male-pattern baldness or thinning hair, patches of dark brown or black skin on the neck, arms, breasts or thighs, skin tags, pelvic pain, anxiety or depression and sleep apnea.

PCOS symptoms mimic those of many other conditions and this can lead to a prolonged diagnosis.

LUPUS

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes the immune system to attack the body's own healthy tissues and organs.

The common symptoms of Lupus are joint pain and swelling, muscle pain, fever with no known cause and red rashes that often occur on the face (butterfly rash).

There is not just one test that can produce a diagnosis. Multiple tests have to be done, many conditions have to be ruled out, and this results in waiting months and sometimes even years for a diagnosis.

Waiting for a diagnosis when you feel miserable can be frustrating and it can have a huge impact on your life and the lives of those who love you. Life is hard anyway, but when you suffer from one of the top 5 undiagnosed diseases, it gets a lot harder.