Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis

What is cystic fibrosis?
1. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition in which the lungs and digestive system become clogged with thick sticky mucus
2. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a genetic mutation; specifically a mutation in a gene called CFTR
3. A genetic mutation is when the instructions found in all living cells become scrambled in some way, meaning that one or more of the processes of the body do not work in the way they should.
4. The CFTR mutation allows too much salt and water into cells. This results in a build-up of thick, sticky mucus in the body's tubes and passageways. These blockages damage the lungs, digestive system and other organs, resulting in the symptoms of cystic fibrosis.
Symtoms
1. Persistent cough
2. Recurring chest and lung infections
3. Poor weight gain
Treatment
1. There is no cure, so the aim is to ease the symptoms
2. bronchodilators – expands the airways inside the lungs making it easier to breathe
3. antibiotics – to treat chest and lung infections
4. physiotherapy – there are a range of exercises that can help clear mucus from the lungs
Diagnosis
1. Screenings are done of the internal organs
2. Cystic fibrosis (CF) may be suspected in a child who shows poor growth, has repeated respiratory or sinus infections, or both
3. The standard diagnostic test for cystic fibrosis is the quantitative sweat chloride test, or "sweat test," which measures the amount of salt in the sweat.

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	Created by jessica.moore16 about 11 years ago