By: Noel Corral and Jackie Salazar

ALBINISM

GENETIC DISORDER• Albinism is a recessive genetic disorder due to

a defective X-chromosome

• In order to have Albinism both parents must have a defective gene.– Statistics show that about 1 in 17,000 people suffer

from some form of albinism

SYMPTOMS • A person with Albinism will have one of the

following symptoms:– Absence of color in the hair, skin, or iris of the eye– Lighter than normal skin and hair– Patchy, missing skin color

DIAGNOSIS • For Diagnosis there are several ways to know

whether or not you have Albinism – Physical examination– Description of changes in pigmentation– Thorough examination of the eyes– Comparison of your child's pigmentation to that of

other family members

PROGNOSIS• Albinism does not usually affect lifespan

• People with Albinism may be limited in their activities because they can't tolerate the sun.

TREATMENT • There is no type of cure for Albinism for it

happens in the genetics

• There are certain recommendations for the symptoms – For the eyes: Visual aids (glasses) – For the skin: Precaution in the sunlight (use of

sunscreen)

CURRENT RESEARCH • The National Eye Institute has come up with a

hypothesis; it being that nitisinone would improve the vision in Albinism patients.

• They are currently testing on mice with Albinism and have been able to conclude that nitisinone increases hair and eye pigmentation

GENETIC COUNSELING • If the parents would want to know whether or not

their child had a possibility in having Albinism they would get told the following – If both parents were not albino but carried the genetic

disorder, there is a 1 out of 4 chance their baby will be born with Albinism.

STORY ON VEDASTUS ZANGULE• Vedastus Zangule was a 13 year old albino child when

Harry Freeland went to Tanzania to make a documentary on the suffering albino kids.

• Harry met Vedastus and filmed him and several other albino kids because they were getting bullied at school and threatened by their community

• After the video was published an organization for the funding of his education was started and financial aid for his family was given.

CREDITS • "Albinism - Types - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs | Medindia." Medindia -

Medical/Health Website. Web. <http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/albinism.htm>.

• "What Happened To Vedastus Zangule After The Documentary?!." Southern Africa's Children UK Charity. Web. <http://www.southern-africas-children.org.uk/what-happened-to-vedastus-zangule.html>.

• " Is Albinism Treatment On The Anvil? | Medindia." Medindia - Medical/Health Website. Web. <http://www.medindia.net/news/Is-Albinism-Treatment-On-The-Anvil-91238-1.htm>.

• "What Is Albinism? What Causes Albinism." Medical News Today: Health News. Web. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245861.php>.

• "Albino Stories." Southern Africa's Children UK Charity. Web. <http://www.southern-africas-children.org.uk/albino-stories.html>.

• "Albinism: Tests and diagnosis - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. Web. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/albinism/DS00941/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis>.

• "Albinism - PubMed Health." National Center for Biotechnology Information. Web. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002450/>.