overview
- Normal airway versus airway with cystic fibrosis
- Open Cystic Fibrosis Popup Dialog
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system, and other organs in the body.
Cystic fibrosis affects cells that produce mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. These secreted liquids are usually thin and slippery. In people with cystic fibrosis, a defective gene causes secretions to become sticky and thick. Instead of acting as a lubricant, the secretions clog tubes, ducts and passageways, especially in the lungs and pancreas.
Although cystic fibrosis is progressive and requires daily care, people with cystic fibrosis can usually go to school and work. They often have a better quality of life than people with cystic fibrosis in the past few decades. Improvements in screening and treatment mean people with cystic fibrosis can now live in their thirties or late forties and some in their fifties. Cystic fibrosis treatment in hyderabad
symptom
- In the United States, newborn screening allows for diagnosing cystic fibrosis within the first month of life before symptoms develop. However, people born before newborn screening is available may not be able to be diagnosed until the signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis appear.
- The signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis vary depending on the severity of the condition. Even in the same person, symptoms may appear or get better over time. Some people may not experience symptoms until they are teenagers or adults. People who are not diagnosed until adulthood usually have a milder condition and are more likely to have atypical symptoms such as recurrent episodes of an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis), infertility, and recurrent pneumonia.
The reasons
In cystic fibrosis, a defect (mutation) in a gene – the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene – changes a protein that regulates the movement of salt in and out of cells. The result is thick, sticky mucus in the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems and increased salt in sweat.
Many different defects can occur in the gene. The type of genetic mutation is related to the severity of the disease.
Risk factors
Because cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease, it runs through families, so family history is a risk factor. Although cystic fibrosis occurs in all races, it is more common in whites of northern European descent.
Complications
- Complications from cystic fibrosis can affect the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems, as well as other organs.Respiratory complications
- Damaged airways (bronchiectasis). Cystic fibrosis is a leading cause of bronchiectasis, a chronic lung disease that causes the airways (bronchi) to become abnormally enlarged and scarred. This makes it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs and to clear mucus from the bronchi.
- Chronic infections. The thick mucus in the lungs and sinuses is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. People with cystic fibrosis can commonly have sinus infections, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Infections with antibiotic-resistant and difficult-to-treat bacteria are common. Cystic fibrosis treatment in hyderabad
prevention
- If you or your partner have close relatives with cystic fibrosis, both of you can get genetic tests done before they have children. The test, which is done on a blood sample in a laboratory, can help you determine the risk of having a child with cystic fibrosis.
- If you’re already pregnant and genetic testing shows that your baby may be at risk for cystic fibrosis, your doctor may do additional tests on your developing child. Cystic fibrosis treatment in hyderabad