Osteogenesis Imperfecta
#7
I still remember sitting with 300 other students in the multi-purpose room watching Kid President every Monday during elementary school. It wasn’t until I was a few years older that I found out that Kid President was born with a bone condition called Osteogenesis imperfecta.
What is Osteogenesis Imperfecta?
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease, is a rare disorder that causes bones in the body to break easily. It is caused by a defect in genes that carry instructions for making type I collagen. Without enough type I collagen, bones in the body are not able to become strong, causing fragile bones that break easily. OI is genetic, so it is present at birth. OI is a lifelong disease, as there is currently no cure.
Types of Osteogenesis Imperfecta
OI doesn’t look the same in everybody, though.
Type I: This is the most common type of OI. People with Type I have fragile bones that break easily, but they are still shaped like normal bones.
Type II: Babies with Type II OI already have many fractures and trouble breathing at birth, so most of them do not survive past a few weeks. Type II is the most severe type of OI.
Type III: People with Type III have a larger, triangular face, abnormally shaped bones, a curved spine, and may suffer from loss of hearing later on in their life.
These are just three types, but there are at least 19 different types of recognized OI.
Treatments
Although there is not yet a cure for OI, there are treatments that can be used to help prevent and repair symptoms. Some treatments include taking medicine to help strengthen the bones, getting treatments from an orthopedic surgeon, and going to physical/occupational therapy.
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That’s interesting, learning something reading your post , thank you