Cystic Fibrosis (also know as CF) is a serious genetic disease that has critical affects on the respiratory system, digestive system, circulatory systems, the bones and sweat glands and the reproductive system. In this paper, we will discuss CF and its effects on the respiratory system only. Cystic Fibrosis was first recognized in the 1930's. Children with CF have an abnormal function of a cell protein called cystic fibrosis trans membrane regulator (CFTR), which is controlling the salt (chloride) and water's movements and certain salt and water in and out of the body. As the movements of salt and water are altered, mucus that is covering the organs becomes thickened. Mucus causes a lot of germs and bacteria because it is sticky. .
Bacteria that enter into our body is stuck in the mucus and germinate in the body. The most common bacterium that causes lung infection is called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As the thick mucus covering the organs in our body, difficulty of breathing seems to be the most serious problems of the people who have CF. They need to take medications for lung infections. There are many symptoms of CF including poor growth, impaired exercise ability, salt loss in hot weather, chronic cough, coughing up blood, sinus infections, salty sweat and infertility that affect other organs of the body. .
CF is common in Caucasians and is one of the most common life threatening life shortening genetic disorders in Australia. Two thirds of the CF patients at any one time are children. Children who are born with CF, both parents must carry the CF gene and they to 1 CF gene from each parent. However, this does not mean that the parents have CF as well, because they have 1 CF gene (abnormal gene) and 1 normal gene. They are carriers. CF carriers will not have any symptoms but can pass the disease on to their children. The normal gene dominates the abnormal gene. About one baby in 2000 is born with CF in Australia and one of every 25 people in Australia are carrying CF gene unknowingly.
