Cystic fibrosis causes severe damage to the digestive and respiratory systems. It is a serious genetic condition caused as a result of a thick buildup of mucus in the organs. The lungs, intestines, pancreas, and liver are some of the most commonly affected organs in this condition. This is because cystic fibrosis affects cells of the body that produce sweat, digestive enzymes, and mucus.
Symptoms of cystic fibrosis
The common symptoms of cystic fibrosis tend to vary from one person to another and on the severity of the condition. The age at which the symptoms develop also tends to vary. With time, the symptoms associated with this condition may either get better or worse. Some of the common symptoms of cystic fibrosis include the following:
Respiratory issues
The sticky and thick mucus associated with cystic fibrosis often leads to the blockage of the passage that carries air in and out of the lungs. This can lead to the following respiratory problems:
- A persistent cough that produces thick mucus
- Recurrent lung infections
- A stuffy nose
- Recurrent lung infections
- Wheezing
- Stuffy sinuses
Digestive problems
The abnormal amount of mucus can plug the channels that carry the enzymes that are produced by the pancreas to the small intestine. The intestine, therefore, cannot absorb the essential nutrients from the food without the help of the digestive enzymes. This can lead to digestive problems such as the following:
- Constipation
- A swollen abdomen
- Greasy and foul-smelling stools
- Nausea
- Poor weight gain in children
- Loss of appetite
- Delayed growth in children
Causes of cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is often the result of a defect in a gene known as the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator also known as the CFTR gene. This gene controls the moment of water and salt going in and out of the cells of the body. A sudden change or mutation in the CFTR gene causes the mucus to become stickier and thicker than it is supposed to be. The mucus builds up abnormally in the various organs of the body like the pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines. It increases the amount of salt in the sweat as well. The CFTR gene can be affected due to many different defects. The type of defect is linked with the severity of cystic fibrosis one might suffer from. The damaged gene could be passed on to a child from the parents as well.
The prognosis for people who have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis has progressed dramatically over the years. This is due to the advancement in the treatments of the condition. As there is no known cure for cystic fibrosis, the function of the lung is bound to decline over time steadily. The damaged to the lungs can cause severe breathing issues and other health problems as well.
Prevention of cystic fibrosis
There is no specific preventive measure for cystic fibrosis. However, genetic testing should be performed for couples who have been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis or those who have relatives with this condition. By testing samples of blood or saliva from each parent, genetic testing helps in determining the risk of the child developing cystic fibrosis.
