CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF)
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects cells that produce digestive juices, sweat, and mucus. A defective gene causes these fluids to become much thicker and stickier than normal, leading to plugging of airways and ducts in certain organs. This can lead to severe damage to the lungs and other organs, especially in the digestive system. Children need to inherit a copy of this abnormal gene from both parents in order to develop cystic fibrosis. If they only inherit one copy of the gene, they will not develop cystic fibrosis, but will be able to pass the disorder to their children. It can occur in patients of any ethnic group but is most common in white people for Northern European ancestry. Newborns are screened for cystic fibrosis in all 50 states.
Symptoms may include:
Some parents notice a salty taste when they kiss their infants with cystic fibrosis
Persistent cough which brings up thick, sticky mucus
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Frequent bronchitis and/or pneumonia
Chronically stuffy nose
Greasy stools that smell foul
Poor weight gain
Growing more slowly than normal
Severe constipation
Intestinal blockage
What your doctor can do:
Make sure that your child is properly screened. If you have an older child who was never screened who has had multiple episdoes of an pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), nasal polyps, or certain lung conditions, your doctor may recommend screening for cystic fibrosis.
Prescribe mucus-thinning medications to help the lungs work better
Prescribe bronchdilators to help keep the airways open
Prescribe pancreatic enzymes to help digest food so that it can be used by your body
Recommend chest physical therapy to help free mucus so that it can be coughed up
Recommend pulmonary rehab for training on exercise, breathing, and proper nutrition as well as psychological support
Recommend removal of nasal polyps
Recommend lung transplant if lung failure develops
Recommend bowel surgery for certain intestinal complications
What you can do:
Make sure that you keep immunizations up to date to help prevent infections
Exercise regularly to help loosen mucus and keep the heart strong
Don't smoke and don't allow other people to smoke around a person with cystic fibrosis
Take medications as prescribed. Your doctor may recommend dietary supplements.
Contact the CF Foundation at 1-800-FIGHT-CF or www.cff.org for more infromation.
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects cells that produce digestive juices, sweat, and mucus. A defective gene causes these fluids to become much thicker and stickier than normal, leading to plugging of airways and ducts in certain organs. This can lead to severe damage to the lungs and other organs, especially in the digestive system. Children need to inherit a copy of this abnormal gene from both parents in order to develop cystic fibrosis. If they only inherit one copy of the gene, they will not develop cystic fibrosis, but will be able to pass the disorder to their children. It can occur in patients of any ethnic group but is most common in white people for Northern European ancestry. Newborns are screened for cystic fibrosis in all 50 states.
Symptoms may include:
Some parents notice a salty taste when they kiss their infants with cystic fibrosis
Persistent cough which brings up thick, sticky mucus
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Frequent bronchitis and/or pneumonia
Chronically stuffy nose
Greasy stools that smell foul
Poor weight gain
Growing more slowly than normal
Severe constipation
Intestinal blockage
What your doctor can do:
Make sure that your child is properly screened. If you have an older child who was never screened who has had multiple episdoes of an pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), nasal polyps, or certain lung conditions, your doctor may recommend screening for cystic fibrosis.
Prescribe mucus-thinning medications to help the lungs work better
Prescribe bronchdilators to help keep the airways open
Prescribe pancreatic enzymes to help digest food so that it can be used by your body
Recommend chest physical therapy to help free mucus so that it can be coughed up
Recommend pulmonary rehab for training on exercise, breathing, and proper nutrition as well as psychological support
Recommend removal of nasal polyps
Recommend lung transplant if lung failure develops
Recommend bowel surgery for certain intestinal complications
What you can do:
Make sure that you keep immunizations up to date to help prevent infections
Exercise regularly to help loosen mucus and keep the heart strong
Don't smoke and don't allow other people to smoke around a person with cystic fibrosis
Take medications as prescribed. Your doctor may recommend dietary supplements.
Contact the CF Foundation at 1-800-FIGHT-CF or www.cff.org for more infromation.
