Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis

1. Symptoms

   • Wheezing
   • A decreased ability to exercise
   • Poor weight gain and growth
   • Inflamed nasal passages

2. Causes

   • CF occurs in children who have inherited faulty recessive alleles from their parents
   • A parent who does not have CF but has one dominant allele and one recessive allele is called a CF carrier
   • A child who receives a dominant allele from one parent and a recessive allele from the other parent will not have CF but they will be a carrier of the disease.
   • A child who receives two recessive alleles from both parents will have CF.

3. Definition

   • An inherited disease that results in abnormal mucus secretion that produces severe respiratory problem

4. Treatment and medication

   • Treatment
     • Chest Physical Therapy; Helps to loosen up the mucus and is usually done 1-4 times a day. A common technique is clapping with cupped hands on the front and back of the chest.
   • Medication
     • Antibiotics to treat and prevent lung infections.
     • Mucus-thinning drugs which help you cough up mucus, which improves lung function.
     • Bronchodilators to help keep airways open by relaxing the muscles around your bronchial tube.
     • Oral Pancreatic enzymes to help your digestive tract absorb nutrients.

5. Tests and Diagnosis

   • Sweat test: A sweat producing chemical is applied to a small area of the skin. The collected sweat is then tested to see if it is saltier than normal.
   • Genetic Testing: DNA samples from blood or saliva can be checked for specific defects on the gene responsibLe for CF

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