Cystic Fibrosis
by Natalie Nguyen, Olivia Larkin
More Symptoms
Clubbed fingers and toes
the ends of fingers and toes become swollen and rounded
Polyps in nostrils
-soft growths in nasal passages that are caused by inflammation in the nose
Odorous Stools
-Mucus buildup in digestions-Salty Skin
-Coughing with phlegm
-lung infections
-wheezing
Cellular Problem
This disease causes severe damage to the respiratory and the digestive system.
Cystic Fibrosis affects the respiratory system. The lungs are a pair of air filled organs that are located on both sides of the chest. You inhale air through your trachea (windpipe) and then through tubular branches called the bronchi. It then gets dispersed through even smaller branches called bronchioles.
Normally, bronchi are covered with cells that produce a thin layer of mucus. Cilia (little hairs) on the surface of the breathing tubes catch any foreign particles and send them away. Cystic fibrosis causes the mucus to become so sticky and thick that the cilia cannot sweep out the germs and other particles. Because of the infection, your immune system sends out white blood cells for an attempt to remove the infection. After white blood cells attack bacteria, they die and add on to the thickening layer of mucus.Symptoms:
respiratory system
abnormally thick and sticky mucus develops
the abnormal mucus can clog the airways
leads to bacterial infections and serious breathing
bacterial infections cause coughing,wheezing, and inflammation
over time bacterial infections and mucus buildup causes serious lung damage
- scar tissue and cysts develop in the lungs
Cystic fibrosis also affects the digestive system. Your digestive system breaks down food, absorbs the needed nutrients, and gets rid of waste.
Cystic fibrosis causes mucus to fill the pancreas whose job is to produce enzymes that break down food in the intestines, letting nutrients be absorbed by your body. Food is not properly digested and causes malnutrition and will then lead to difficulty in maintaining weight.
Diabetes can also be an effect from cystic fibrosis. The pancreas also produces a hormone that helps control blood sugar. When clogged with mucus, the abnormal buildup of hormones start to break down the pancreatic tissue which stops insulin production causing diabetes.
Symptoms for the digestive system
abnormally thick and sticky mucus builds up in pancreas
mucus blocks ducks in pancreas
this reduces the production of insulin and prevents enzymes from aiding digestion in the intestines
leads to diarrhea, malnutrition, poor growth, and weight loss
this shortage of insulin can lead to a form of diabetes, especially in adolescents and adults (cystic fibrosis-related diabetes mellitus
Transmission:
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that is transmitted to a child when both parents of a child have the recessive gene. (Note they do not have the disease.) There is a 25% that their child will develop CF, 25% that the child will not develop CF, and 50% that the child will receive the gene but not have CF.The individual inherits the disease in an autosomal recessive pattern (both copies of the gene in each cell have a mutation )
Tests:
Genetic tests-This can be done by taking a blood sample from the mothers womb before birth.
Sweat Test: They measure the level of salt that is in your sweat. People who are diagnosed with CF have an abnormal amount of sweat in their sweat.
Immunoreactive trypsinogen: This test is a standard tests used on newborns to scan for CF. If there is a high level of IRT detected that suggest CF further testing on the newborn will be done.Treatment
There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Although, there are treatments that have helped the symptoms.
-Antibiotics are used to help prevent and treat lung infections and sinus infections.
Taken by mouth
Given in veins
Breathing Treatments
Lifespan of those treated who are children live to about their early 50’s lifespan of adults who are treated live to about mid 40’s.
Untreated: Cystic Fibrosis is common to be untreated in adults. If untreated in children, a severe chest infection and chronic diarrhea can occur. Due to CF the child would be very weak and unable to absorb fat and protein. In 98% of cases, the pancreatic gland does not work properly and the gut is affected. Due to a constant battle between germs, patients can also develop arthritis.
Sites
http://www.cff.org/treatments/
http://www.medicinenet.com/cystic_fibrosis/article.htm
http://hospitals.unm.edu/cf/cf_treatment.shtml
http://www.hopkinscf.org/what-is-cf/diagnosis/testing/sweat-test/
http://www.biologyguide.net/unit1/3c_cystic_fibrosis.htm
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/ap/foxhumphys/student/olc/h-reading10.html
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/cystic-fibrosis
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cystic-fibrosis/basics/definition/con-20013731