Why the Zebra?

In medicine, a very unlikely diagnostic possibility is known as a Zebra. It comes from an old saying which is used to teach medical students about how to think logically and not jump straight to an 'out of the box' diagnosis. The saying is “when you hear hoof beats, think of horses, not zebras”. It captures the essence of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome perfectly. It’s symptoms mirror many other more common conditions, yet Ehlers-Danlos is a very rare and almost unheard of genetic disorder, which is why EDS sufferers are known as medical zebras.