Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis, also known as mucoviscidosis, CF, and 65 roses, is a condition a person may get from their parents. It makes the body make thick, sticky mucus, which builds up in the lungs, the digestive system, and other parts of the body.[1]
If both parents have the cystic fibrosis gene, and pass it into their child, the child will get cystic fibrosis. A cystic fibrosis gene is needed from each parent. The parent might not have cystic fibrosis but still might have the gene. A person with cystic fibrosis is not contagious (they cannot give it to anyone else). There is no cure for cystic fibrosis, but there are a lot of medications that help keep people healthy.[2]
What CF does to the body
Cystic fibrosis affects the entire body. Overall the body has trouble moving salt to the parts of the body that need it. Since the body has trouble moving salt, it piles up in places it is not supposed to like the lungs, stomach and intestines.[3]
- Lungs
In the lungs when salt gets stuck it causes there to be less water which makes mucus become very thick. It becomes very hard to breathe. The treatment for this is breathing medicine to help add water to the lungs to keep the mucus thinner so it is easier to cough up. When there is thinner and less mucus it is easier to breathe.
Treatment
There is no cure for cystic fibrosis. Even though people can do things to stay healthy. Healthy habits keep the person from getting more sick. People can stay clean. People can stay away from germs. They can drink water to help the mucus go away. Taking enzymes help digest food if there is mucus in the stomach.
Exercise clears mucus. It builds strong muscles and bones and strengthens the lungs. Taking vitamins helps the body fight off the infection. It also helps the body grow and function well.[4]
- Inhaled antibiotics are used to keep bacteria from growing in the thick mucus.
- Inhaled salt-water helps keep the lungs moisturized
Testing for cystic fibrosis
- Sweat chloride test - this tests the salt level of a persons sweat.
- Genetic test - this is used if the sweat test is positive to see if they have both genes.
65 roses
"65 roses" is how some children refer to their condition since cystic fibrosis is difficult for a young child to say. '65 Roses' is also a trademarked phrase by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help control its use. It is a very helpful way for young children to understand. When spoken aloud, it sounds similar to cystic fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis Media
Video summary (script)
Respiratory infections in CF vary according to age.Green = Pseudomonas aeruginosaBrown = Staphylococcus aureusBlue = Haemophilus influenzaeRed = Burkholderia cepacia complex
Cystic fibrosis has an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance.
The CFTR protein is a channel protein that controls the flow of H2O and Cl− ions in and out of cells inside the lungs. When the CFTR protein is working correctly, ions freely flow in and out of the cells.
The location of the CFTR gene on chromosome 7
Dorothy Hansine Andersen first described cystic fibrosis in 1938.
References
- ↑ "Cystic fibrosis". ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ↑ Stites DP, Caldwell J, Carr MC, Fudenberg HH (1975). "Ontogeny of immunity in humans". Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 4 (4): 519–27. doi:10.1016/0090-1229(75)90093-8. PMID 0001167.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Frizzell RA (1995). "Functions of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein". Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 151 (3 Pt 2): S54-8. doi:10.1164/ajrccm/151.3_Pt_2.S54. PMID 7533606.
- ↑ Judy Fulton, Susan Casey, Elisabeth Luder, Karen Maguiness, Annie McKenna, Leslie Hazle. Pamphlet by: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Dec 2007 pNA.