Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease which affects the glands that produce mucus, tears, saliva, sweat, and the digestive juices in the human body. In the normal case, these secretions would be thin and slippery in nature. However, in a person affected with cystic fibrosis, these secretions would become extremely thick and sticky. This thick and sticky secretion would then affect the lungs as well as the pancreas. In the case of the pancreas, it would prevent the pancreas from secreting the enzymes that are required for the digestion of the fats. In case of lungs, it leads to respiratory failure.
Causes of cystic fibrosis
This disease is a genetic disease. Therefore, families with a history of cystic fibrosis are most likely to get affected by this disease. According to research studies, this disease is also more likely to affect the white population of the North American ancestry. Doctors therefore, suggest genetic counseling for those couples who have cystic fibrosis history in their families. If both the partners have had a history of cystic fibrosis, then chances are that one of four of their children will be diagnosed with this disease. Like mentioned earlier, this is an inherited disease and is not contagious.
Signs & Symptoms of cystic fibrosis
Though the symptoms of cystic fibrosis is directly related to the severity of the disease, some of its symptoms are chronic cough, recurring pneumonia, bowel blockage, enlarged liver, enlarged fingertips and toes, salty sweat, and poor weight gain. Approximately 97% of male with cystic fibrosis is infertile and the average age of death for people with cystic fibrosis is 37% due to lung failure.
Cystic fibrosis treatments
In order to diagnose a case of cystic fibrosis, doctors perform a sweat test. This test measures the level of sodium and chloride in the sweat sample. Doctors may also take a blood sample to diagnose cystic fibrosis. However, this disease has no cure. The primary aim of any line of treatment in this case is to keep infections away, prevent sputum from the lungs, and provide adequate nourishment to the patient.