Overview:
Gaucher's Disease is a disease in which the body does not store fat correctly because of a lack of a certain enzyme. This fat builds up in organs and bones and, in rare cases, the nervous system and brain. Gaucher's disease affects men and women of all races. The severity can range from less severe to fatal.
Symptoms:
-Enlarged Spleen/Liver
-Yellow Spots in the eyes
-Easy bruising and bleeding
-Fatigue
Effects:
-Anemia
-Skeletal Disorders
-Dementia
-Liver malfunction
Types:
Type 1 - the most common form of Gaucher's Disease. It doesn't affect the brain or nervous system, but can be life threatening. Some people with this do not show any symptoms of having it.
Type 2 - this is a rare form of Gaucher's Disease. This shows up in children by the third month of age. It greatly affects the nervous system and the brain. People with this form of Gaucher's Disease usually die within the second year of age.
Type 3 - this is also a rare form of Gaucher's Disease. It produces neurological problems, but not as serious as Type 2. Signs that they have Gaucher's Disease appear in childhood, but people with this type usually live a full life.
Gaucher's Disease is a disease in which the body does not store fat correctly because of a lack of a certain enzyme. This fat builds up in organs and bones and, in rare cases, the nervous system and brain. Gaucher's disease affects men and women of all races. The severity can range from less severe to fatal.
Symptoms:
-Enlarged Spleen/Liver
-Yellow Spots in the eyes
-Easy bruising and bleeding
-Fatigue
Effects:
-Anemia
-Skeletal Disorders
-Dementia
-Liver malfunction
Types:
Type 1 - the most common form of Gaucher's Disease. It doesn't affect the brain or nervous system, but can be life threatening. Some people with this do not show any symptoms of having it.
Type 2 - this is a rare form of Gaucher's Disease. This shows up in children by the third month of age. It greatly affects the nervous system and the brain. People with this form of Gaucher's Disease usually die within the second year of age.
Type 3 - this is also a rare form of Gaucher's Disease. It produces neurological problems, but not as serious as Type 2. Signs that they have Gaucher's Disease appear in childhood, but people with this type usually live a full life.