Cystic Fibrosis
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Causes of Cystic Fibrosis
Gene and chromosome linked to the disease
Testing used to diagnose the disease
People with Cystic Fibrosis have between 2 and 5 times the normal amount of salt in their sweat. Doctors can use a sweat test to measure the amount of salt in a person's sweat. Sweat is collected from the person's arm or leg and taken to a laboratory to be carefully studied. In newborns doctors can measure the amount of a protein in the blood. The level of this protein is higher than normal in people with Cystic Fibrosis. Also genetic tests can identify a faulty CFTR gene using a sample of the patient's blood.
Who in the population can be affected by it and how do you get it
Family history of the disease
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive gene so both parents have to have cystic fibrosis for the kid to have it. There is a 25% chance that the baby can get cystic fibrosis if both parents have cystic fibrosis.
Symptoms
- Foul-smelling, greasy stools
- Poor weight gain and growth
- Intestinal blockage, particularly in newborns (meconium ileus)
- Severe constipation
- A persistent cough that produces thick (sputum) mucus
- Wheezing
- Breathlessness
- Exercise intolerance
- Repeated lung infections
- Inflamed nasal passages or a stuffy nose
Above is an example of a symptom from Cystic Fibrosis
Medical assistance
Treatments and cures
Antibiotics can help with symptoms and makes it easier to deal with.
Websites
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cf/causes
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/CFTR
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/singlegene/cf/
http://www.chp.edu/our-services/transplant/liver/education/liver-disease-states/cystic-fibrosis
http://discovermagazine.com/2013/september/14-doorway-to-a-cure