Wilson's disease is a genetic disease of the metabolism of the copper. One person in ten thousand people is affected. There is homo zygote and hetero zygotic people. Hetero zygotic people do not present symptoms. Homo zygote people can be asymptomatic during the early stages of the disease. There is treatment for this disease. Without treatment the patient will die.

Usually the diagnosis is easily made. The problem identifying some patients that are asymptomatic patients or hetero zygotic patients because they could have a similar appearance. The family research is very important in the management of this disease.

What are the methods of treatment?The treatment is with drugs, penicillamine and zing sulfate. CCSS provides this treatment for these people. The treatment course last the patient's lifetime. It is possible that the incidence of this disease in Costa Rica is higher than some other countries because Costa Rica has a fairly high incidence of familial inbreeding. If the treatment begins early during the course of the disease the patient can carry on normal life activities.

Note: The information above was provided by one of Stephen's international English language students, a physician who lives in Costa Rica.  Stephen provides Online English lessons for students and a wide range of professionals including physicians, attorneys, engineers and import and export logistics managers.