Cystic Fibrosis
By: Brandon Morris
The cause of Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited gene that is defective and is on chromosome 7. This defective gene is called CFTR. Normally this gene usually helps salt move in and out of the cell. But when CFTR comes the gene doesn't work properly and can cause abnormally thick and sticky mucus held on the outside of the cell. Too much mucus cause airways in the respiratory system and can cause major infections of bacteria. This disorder is an autosomal recessive disorder. Which means both parents must pass the defective gene to their children for their children to get this disease. If the child ones receives one defective gene, then this child is a carrier. Carriers do not have this disorder but do carry the faulty gene and are able to pass it on to their children.
Symptoms and Effects
Cystic Fibrosis is a disease which primarily causes damage to the digestive and respiratory system by blocking air ways and passage ways in the body with mucus. Symptoms include coughing, prolonged diarrhea, continuous lung infections, and poor weight gain. Cystic Fibrosis is a complex disease and affects many different organs. In lungs Cystic Fibrosis causes mucus to build up in airways and cause abnormal lung function making it harder to breathe. In the digestive system this mucus mostly affects the pancreas, by adding layers of mucus that cover up the ducts. This causes the digestive enzymes not to be able to aid the intestines and digestion. This causes malnutrition, which causes poor growth and physical weakness. Many people that have Cystic Fibrosis also can develop bone disease (thin, brittle bones) due to malnutrition. In some cases for boys Cystic Fibrosis blocks the tubes that carry sperm. There is also an 8% chance to anybody that has Cystic Fibrosis to develop liver disease, because the mucus blocks the small liver ducts.
What is Cystic Fibrosis?
Treatments and Outlooks
There are no actual cure for Cystic Fibrosis, but there are other treatments that help ease the pain and help the symptoms for Cystic Fibrosis. People with Cystic Fibrosis are recommended to be on close monitoring. Medications to help Cystic Fibrosis include antibiotics to help with lung infections, Mucus-thinning drugs which makes you cough up the mucus and help with respiratory and digestive function, Bronchodilaters that help with airways being open by relaxing the bronchial tubes and Oral pancreatic enzymes to help your digestive system absorb the nutrients. Chest Physical Therapy are breathing devices that are usually a tube or mask you where when doing exercises and helping your lungs relax. There are also many surgical ways to help with Cystic Fibrosis. These surgery's may include Nasal polyp removal, Oxygen therapy, Endoscopy and lavage, Lung transplant, Feeding tube or Bowel Surgery. People with Cystic Fibrosis will have a harder lifestyle with extra obstacles to get threw with everyday life, but most are able to live through life as anybody lives in life.
Sources
Mayo Clinic Staff. "Cystic Fibrosis." Treatments and Drugs. Mayo Clinic, 13 June 2012. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.
"Cystic Fibrosis." Cystic Fibrosis. University of Utah Health Services, 2015. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.
Littlewood, John. "A History of Cystic Fibrosis." Introduction to the History of Cystic Fibrosis. Cfmedicine, 2014. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.
"Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis." Cystic Fibrosis Trust. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.