Albinism Definition Clinical symptoms and Precautions

 

Albinism is a rare autosomal genetic disorder that is inherited from one generation into another through one recessive gene, albinism is characterized by abnormal melanocytes (they do not form melanin); In most cases, albinos live a short life (less than 35 years) and deaths occur due to skin cancers.

Main signs and symptoms of albinism include absence of color in the skin, hair, and eyes.

Clinical symptoms

What are the symptoms of albinism?

In most albinos the symptoms are characterized as the following: pale skin, pink or red eyes and white hair. Other symptoms of albinism may include: strabismus (crossed eyes), photophobia (sensitivity to light), extreme nearsightedness or farsightedness, nystagmus (involuntary rapid eye movements), impaired vision or blindness, and astigmatism.

Complications:

What are the complications of albinism

Skin cancers develop frequently in Albinos that usually sunburn easily because their skin lack to melanin.

Skin cancers arise in parts of the skin exposed to the sun and is inversely related to the amount of melanin “skin pigmentation” the person is having; of all humans albinos are most susceptible because they do not have melanin at all, or in very few quantities.

Skin cancers include many types such as basal cell carcinomas, malignant melanoma etc. However, in most cases, skin cancers are usually curable.

Treatment and precautions

Can you treat albinism?

There is no cure for albinism, but a variety of measures can be taken to relieve symptoms and to prevent further sun damage. Surgical treatments (cataract surgery) can be used to treat cataracts associated with ocular albinism. Moreover, surgery can also be used to correct squint, which may improve the appearance of the eyes. 

Lens replacement surgery (to correct myopia or nearsightedness), lens implantation surgery, LASIK eye surgery, etc. are treatment options for ocular albinism; However, these measures cannot cure ocular albinism. Strabismus surgery (eye muscle surgery) can be done for improving binocular vision and correcting strabismus, the procedure is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. Surgery also helps in minimizing nystagmus.

During strabismus surgery, recession of the medial rectus is performed to improve alignment.

How to prevent albinism?

Standard precautions include the following measures:

1. Avoid sunlight, don’t allow your children to expose themselves to the sun at noon. Exposure to sun, especially around midday can lead to skin burns, wrinkles, etc.

People with albinism should wear should wear protective clothing (long clothes) and hats to protect the skin from UV rays because people with albinism can sunburn very easily.

Melanin helps protect our skin from the sun, which is why people with darker skin are less likely to burn.

2. Use sunglasses to protect the eyes from from UV rays.

3. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of >16.

People with albinism should wear sunscreen with an SPF of >16 (sun protection factor). Sunscreen should be thickly applied at least 20 minutes before going out in the sun.

For maximum protection, choose sunscreens with broad spectrum protection with an SPF of 30 or higher that protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

Major problems facing Albinos in Africa

East African albinos face constant threat of attack especially in Tanzania (80k albinos) and Burundi (20k albinos).

Albinos in Africa face an ongoing threat and are subject to a process of cleansing, in Tanzania alone its estimated that 14k albinos face death every day, they are subject to attacks by pagans and devilish people due to rituals and fake beliefs.

Gangs involved in the trafficking of human organs and satanic priests often use propaganda to further their causes. Propaganda Leaders employ a potent mixture of influence techniques and deception to deceive and brainwash the most miserable, unemployed and illiterate groups of people. This satanic brainwashing propaganda has deceived, and is deceiving large proportions of the target population and for this reason Tanzanians are more inclined to believe that using products derived from the eyes, blood and organs of albinos grant sick people the power of healing. It’s not hidden that big criminal organizations and black market organ trafficking rings fuel the violent gangs and are engaged in the widespread and systematic harvesting of organs from albinos (forced organ harvesting).

Illegally harvested organs from albinos are then trafficked to North America and europe where human organ traffickers sell them for big money!

A final word to say

Unless human organizations move fast and put pressure on the corrupted governments in Tanzania and Burundi to stop the violent acts against albino children, persecution will continue and more children will suffer of life-threatening daily attacks, bandits tend to cut their extremities and steal their organs before throwing them on the streets to die.

 

Verified by: Dr.Diab (September 18, 2017)

Citation: Dr.Diab. (September 18, 2017). Albinism Definition Clinical symptoms and Precautions. Medcoi Journal of Medicine, 4(2). urn:medcoi:article18991.