Cystic Fibrosis
Serena Sucarato/Bailey Hachey
What is it?
An inherited disease of the secretory glands. Secretory glands include glands that make mucus and sweat.
What it effects?
Cystic Fibrosis mainly affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses, and sex organs.
Symptoms?
Over time, the symptoms of cystic fibrosis can worsen and may include:
- Pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Gallstones
Continue reading below...
What causes Cystic Fibrosis?
A defect in the CFTR gene causes cystic fibrosis (CF). This gene makes a protein that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of your body's cells.
How is it inherited?
Every person inherits two CFTR genes—one from each parent. Children who inherit a faulty CFTR gene from each parent will have CF.
Children who inherit one faulty CFTR gene and one normal CFTR gene are "CF carriers." CF carriers usually have no symptoms of CF and live normal lives. However, they can pass the faulty CFTR gene to their children.
how to treat cystic fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) has no cure. However, treatments have greatly improved in recent years. The goals of CF treatment include:
- Preventing and controlling lung infections
- Loosening and removing thick, sticky mucus from the lungs
- Preventing or treating blockages in the intestines
- Providing enough nutrition
- Preventing dehydration (a lack of fluid in the body)