Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition that affects the glands that produce mucus, tears, sweat, saliva and digestive juices. In normal people, these products are thin and slippery. Because people with cystic fibrosis glands produce sticky and thick secretions it plugs up tubes, ducts, and passageways. This is especially so with the lungs and pancreas. The biggest concern with cystic fibrosis is respiratory failure.

Signs and symptoms of cystic fibrosis vary among each patient. Another factor is the age of the patient. In newborns, the first signs are the blockage of the intestines, and later its noticeable that the infant does not have immediate growth. The signs from childhood to adolescence include: salty skin, bowel blockage, greasy stools, delayed growth, chronic coughing or wheezing, and chest and sinus infections.

So what causes cystic fibrosis? There is a defective gene and it alters a pro

If both parents come from families with cystic fibrosis, the chances are one out of four that the child will get cystic fibrosis Scientists estimate that 10 millions people may be carriers of cystic fibrosis and not even know it. Approximately 3,200 Caucasian babies in the United States are born with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is not common among African-Americans and Asian-Americans. Two out of three children with cystic fibrosis will be diagnosed by the age of one. There are about 30,000 Americans living with cystic fibrosis. There are 800 identified gene changes that will result in cystic fibrosis when it is paired up with another abnormal gene.

Although Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening disorder, those who have it must undoubtedly learn to accept it as a given in their lives. CF victims have found new ways to extend their lives, and this means that more and more of them are living full adult lives. In fact, 38.7 percent of the people with CF in the United States are now 18 years or older. Maybe with the help of gene therapy, when it will be developed, people with cystic fibrosis and other genetic disorders will be cured.

Cystic fibrosis comes with many complications. Chronic respiratory complications are the most frequent ones. This includes pneumonia and bronchitis. This is because of the thick mucus t

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