Final answer:
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting the connective tissues, primarily causing skin and vascular issues due to collagen defects. It is characterized by symptoms such as highly stretchable skin and joint hypermobility, and is not caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal agents.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), also known as cutaneous asthenia or dermatosparaxis, is a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissues in the body, primarily the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls. It is characterized by defects in the collagen protein, which provides strength and elasticity to these tissues. The most frequent type of EDS involves a deficiency in type-III collagen, which can result from the deficiency of the enzyme hydroxylase or from mutations in the amino acid sequences in collagen synthesis. This disease presents with a variety of symptoms, especially skin and vascular issues, which include highly stretchable skin, tendency to bruise easily, joint hypermobility, and in some cases, more severe internal complications such as organ and arterial rupture.
EDS is one of the collagen diseases of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and is not related to infectious agents; hence, it is not a bacterial, viral, or fungal disorder. It is fundamentally different from other common skin conditions such as eczema, which is an inflammatory condition, and acne, which involves the clogging of pores leading to inflammation and possible infection. Unlike conditions that are the result of external factors or pathogens, EDS is a hereditary condition passed down through genes.