Q. A friend of mine was diagnosed with Jumping Frenchmen of Maine. Have you ever heard of this?

Not until now. Jumping Frenchmen of Maine is a rare, unexplained disorder that produces an extreme startle reaction to a sudden noise or sight.

Jumping Frenchmen of Maine was first identified during the late 1800s in Maine and the Canadian province of Quebec. It was discovered among an isolated population of French-Canadian lumberjacks. Since the discovery, the extreme startle reaction has been found in other societies in many parts of the world.

Jumping Frenchmen of Maine is one of almost 7,000 rare diseases. In the United States, a disease is classified as rare if fewer than 200,000 people have it. About 25 million people in the United States have a rare or orphan disease.

Some familiar orphan diseases are cystic fibrosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome.

An excellent source of assistance for these diseases is the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), a 501(c)(3) organization. NORD, is a patient-advocacy organization dedicated to individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

NORD, along with its more than 280 patient organization members, is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and patient services. Here’s the contact information:

National Organization for Rare Disorders, 55 Kenosia Avenue, Danbury, Conn. 06810, and: rarediseases.org

Rare diseases are discovered every year. Most are inherited and caused by alterations or defects in genes. Others can be caused by environmental conditions.For a list of rare diseases, go to the Genetics Home Reference website at: ghr.nlm.nih.gov/BrowseConditions

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All Rights Reserved &Copy; 2018 Fred Cicetti

The Times News, Inc., and affiliates (Lehigh Valley Press) do not endorse or recommend any medical products, processes, or services or provide medical advice. The views of the columnist and column do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Lehigh Valley Press. The article content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, or other qualified health provider, with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.