There are between 6,000 and 8,000 known rare diseases - defined as a disease affecting less than 5 in 10,000 people - and every week more are being discovered. Many rare diseases are hard to diagnose, both because there isn't as much research available on them, and also because they often present similar symptoms to much more common conditions. Rare diseases can go un- or mis-diagnosed for too long, sometimes proving fatal for the patient. Isabel Maude, the inspiration for Isabel Healthcare, was lucky, but not everyone is. The best way to combat misdiagnoses of rare diseases is to improve the diagnostic process of the physician, helping them to consider the rare diseases they may not have thought of themselves. That's where Isabel comes in, of course. We've made an infographic of some facts and figures of rare diseases and misdiagnosis, and the ways in which Isabel can help combat against misdiagnosis.
Find out more about the Isabel Diagnosis Checklist here, with our whitepaper on Diagnosis Decision Support Tools: