About Incurable diseases

What are the Complications of Incurable Diseases?

Incurable diseases that are highly fatal in nature (like rabies) can result in immediate death. Rare incurable diseases often lead to premature death due to the disease or its complications.
Complications that occur in these disorders are often a result of the degenerative nature of the condition on the body, or failure of the body to combat the disease or secondary infections that may further worsen the immune system.
Muscle weakness, paralysis, single or multi-organ failure, recurrent infections, secondary infections, septicemia (blood infection), depression, mental disturbances, suicidal tendencies, drug resistance and side effects of long term medications are some of the complications observed.

What are the Tests for Incurable Diseases?

Testing for an incurable disease is often a psychological dilemma for the patient and requires prior and post counseling due to the incurable nature of the disease. Frequent follow up is required to maintain the mental and physical wellbeing of the patient.
Early testing like prenatal screening tests are available at tertiary health centers which can help in identification of genetic disorders that may occur in the offspring of the concerned. Genetic counseling and family planning allow in better decision making and prevention of incurable diseases of genetic nature. But ethical concerns have been raised regarding these tests.
Screening and diagnostic tests are available for incurable diseases to identify infectious organism or antigen, antibodies, bio markers that are linked to these disorders. Highly prevalent diseases often have tests available at government or public institutions but rare disease testing may be available only at high end institutions.

How are Incurable Diseases Treated?

As per definition, there is no cure for these disorders. However, many of these diseases can be controlled and complications can be prevented with medications. Certain conditions like cancer if identified very early can be treated but require follow up on a regular basis to rule out recurrence.
Supportive measures may be used to improve the quality of life of the patient. Physiotherapy, rehabilitative support and equipment, pain and palliative medications may be required to cope with degenerative complications of certain disease, and prevent secondary infection.
Counseling of the patient and the family is often required to improve the mental wellbeing and to prevent depression, anxiety, despair and death.