ALBINISM

ALBINISM

CONTENTS

• What is Albinism?• What causes it?• What are the problems associated with it?• Types of Albinism• What are the treatment options for albinism?• Animals and plants with albinism• Albinism in Tanzania

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What’s ALBINISM?• Latin Albus = “White”• Little or no melanin pigment• Humans,animals and plants can have Albinism• 1 in every 20.000 people

• have white or very light blonde hair• sometimes brown or ginger hair• very pale skin

What causes it?

• inherited genetic condition• passed down by both

parents• one or more defective

genes

• one in four chance albinism +• one in two chance carrier +• one in four chance albinism - / carrier -

What are the problems associated with it?

• Two main problems

1. Skin Problems

2. Eye Problems

• They have very fair skin which is prone to burn easily in the sun.

• at higher than average risk of skin cancer • no natural protection against the sun

SKIN PROBLEMS

EYE PROBLEMS• very pale blue or grey eyes• vision is impaired• photophobia sensitivity to light• Nystagmus involuntary, rhythmic eye movements• Squint where the eyes point in different

directions

TYPES OF ALBINISM

• two main categories of albinism

1. Ocular albinism

2. Oculocutaneous

1. OCULAR ALBINISM• eyes lack melanin pigment • skin and hair appear normal or only slightly

lighter• accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all albinism cases

2. Oculocutaneous Albinism (OCA)

• most common form of albinism• dilution of the color of the hair, skin, and eyes• 4 main subtypes

A. OCA1

B. OCA2

C. OCA3

D. OCA4

OCA1

•white hair • very pale skin• light-colored irises

OCA2• minimal amount of melanin pigment • less severe• skin creamy white color • hair may be light yellow, blond, or light brown

OCA3• usually affects dark-skinned people• reddish-brown skin• ginger or red hair• hazel or brown irises

OCA4• similar symptoms to OCA2• light skin• yellow, blond or light brown hair• occurs frequently in the Japanese and Korean

populations

TREATMENT

• no cure for albinism• only ease the symptoms• wear protective clothing, hats

and eyewear• use sunscreen • Glasses• Eye muscle surgery

SOME ANIMALS AND PLANTS WITH

ALBINISM

Albinism in Tanzania

• 1 in 1,400 people being affected

• killed by attackers for their body parts

• bring good luck

• The government is building shelters for people with Albinism • They are trying to stop the attackers

THANKS FOR LISTENING . . .