ALBINISM
Gabby B. and Chloe M.
Definition of Albinism
It is a disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. There bodies aren't able to make a normal amount of melanin. Melanin is the chemical that is responsible for eye, skin, and hair color. So most people with Albinism have pale skin, hair, and eyes.
Albino Highland Calf
The calf in the middle is albino. Highland cows are normally shades of lighter to darker browns.
Albino Human
You can see albino people have super pale skin and their hair and body hair is white or bright blonde and redish eye color, because of the lack of being able to make melanin.
albino koala
Its super cute. Notice there is loss of pigment in the fur and is white, when normally they have grey fur color.
Symptoms of Albinism
The symptoms are usually but not always...
- Loss of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes
- Crossed eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Impaired vision or blindness
What Causes Albinism?
The body isn't able to make a normal amount of Melinan, which is the chemical that is responsible for eye, skin, and hair color. It is a mutation, it is recessive, and its found on chromosome 11.
How is Albinism Treated?
Young children may need glasses while other children may need bifocals. They need to protect their skin and eyes from the sun because they are sensitive to light. There is no effective medical treatment for albinism yet today.
prognosis
People with Albinism have a greater chance of getting skin cancer and will have vision problems and possibly go blind. Only some types of Albinism can affect the life span an example is Hermansky Pudlak Syndrome with this type they're more likely to have bleeding problems and diseases of the lungs.
diagnosis
A complete diagnostic work up includes a:
- Physical exam
- Description of changes in pigmentation
- Thorough exam of eyes
- Comparison of pigmentation to family members
Albinism can bee diagnosed prenatally, only if the parents have had a child diagnosed with Albinism and only through DNA research and in this case cells in the fluid are examined to see if they have an Albinism gene from each parent.
How many and what type of people are likely to have Albinism?
One person in 17,000 has some type of Albinism. It depends on what type of Albinism a person has to decide weather it is more common in gender or race it is most common in.
Albino Eyes
There is a type Albinism that is triggered for lack of color in just the eyes it is called Oculocutaneous Albinism. It causes the eyes to be shades of purplish pink to a blood red.
Eye Tests
This is a little girl getting eye test done to see if she needs glasses or bifocals.
Comparison between normal eye and albino eye
This chart shows the difference between the eye of a person with out Albinism and a person with Albinism. The one on the left is the person with out the one on the right is the person with Albinism.
Fun Facts
- It is inherited
- It increases the chance of getting skin cancer
- There is no cure
- They have a greater chance of going blind
Bibliography
- Google.com
- Kidshealth.org
- Mayoclinic.org
- Dnalc.org
- Visionfortomorrow.org
- Emedicine.medscape.com
- Home-remidies-for-you.com
- Askville.Amazon.com