I have a 5 paragraph essay due on cystic fibrosis. What do I need to know? Its for my biology class and Im a sophomore.
My son has had lab work today for his failure to gain weight. He is 7 months old. One of the drs concerns was the possiblility he may have cystic fibrosis. Anyone have any children with this or know any of the symptoms other than slow weight gain. Any help would be appreciated. thanks in advance.
my son weighs 13 lbs
The drs have checked his lungs and have determined them to be clear, but he has always had a bit of a congested breathing sound. the dr did put him on a new formula similac alimentum
I am a carrier for Cystic Fibrosis. I’m not sure if my boyfriend is (he’s getting a blood test done) but I just had a miscarriage and my doctor said that MAY be the reason why. I’ve had a miscarriage before too, I’m just wondering if this could have caused it? =[
How do you know if you are at risk of getting cystic fibrosis? It can affect males and females and people from all ethnic groups. The disease is most common in Caucasians. Cystic fibrosis is the most common inherited disease among American Caucasians. Caucasians who have ancestors that came from Northern Europe are most susceptible to getting cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis is common in Latinos and Native Americans. It is especially prevalent in the Pueblo and Zuni tribes although it is uncertain why they have a higher risk factor. CF is less common in African Americans and Asian Americans. The disease is believed to evolve from the body’s defense against the disease of cholera. That fact has not been scientifically proved.
A human being has 23 pairs of chromosomes that are inherited from parents called DNA. If there is a defective gene it is the number seven gene that will be a mutant. A child cannot get cystic fibrosis unless both parents have the mutant gene. They could become a carrier if they inherit the CF gene from one parent. Carriers do not show any cystic fibrosis symptoms but can pass the gene on to their children. If both parents are carriers there is a 25 percent chance one of their child will have cystic fibrosis.
There are many mutations of the cystic fibrosis gene. Some will have more severe symptoms than others born with this condition. Scientists estimate that as many as one of every 3600 Caucasian babies born in the United States this year will be born with CF. In comparison, there will be one of every 17,000 African American babies born with the disease, and only one of every 90,000 Asian babies will be born with this disease.
Scientists estimate that about twelve million Americans are carries of the mutant CF gene. If you know there is CF in your family, you may want to have genetic testing to see if you or your spouse is a carrier for the disease. This may affect your decision about starting or adding to your family. Testing can be done on parents, family members, siblings, and on unborn or recently born children.
CF is a disease that demands daily care including pulmonary therapy, a special diet high in fats and vitamin supplements to prevent dehydration and proper growth. Special oral doses of enzymes for the pancreas may be required as well as an antibiotic to combat lung infections. A child may be given a mucus-thinning drug to keep their mucus thin and flowing.
New research is taking place on a new drug that goes into the system through the inhalation process and delivers normal copies of the mutant gene number seven. This new gene therapy is undergoing clinical trials in many different health and medical centers throughout the United States. Lung disease is common in most patients with this condition causing disability and a shorter life span.
By: Juliet Taylor
About the Author:
From past history, we know there is a 2/3 chance that Jane is a carrier of cystic fibrosis. Her husband is a carrier. If she is a carrier, there is a ¼ chance that a son will have the disease. If not, a son cannot get the disease. Transmission is independent from child to child. If they have 3 sons, all of whom do not have the disease, what is the probability that she is a carrier?
Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease of the mucous and sweat glands, which affects mostly the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses and sex organs. This condition is also known as CF, Fibrocystic Disease or Mucoviscidosis. CF is caused by a defect in the CFTR gene which makes a protein that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of the cells of the body. A dysfunction of this gene causes the thick, sticky mucous and very salty sweat, which are the main features of this condition. CF is an inherited disease, which is more common in people from Northern Europe, Latin Americans and Native Americans.
Common symptoms of CF include frequent coughing with thick sputum; bronchitis; pneumonia; salty skin; dehydration; male infertility; diarrhea or bulky, foul smelling or greasy stools; stomach pain and discomfort; and failure to thrive. CF can also cause sinusitis, bronchiectasis, pancreatitis, recurrent intestinal blockage, nasal polyps, clubbing, collapsed lung, rectal prolapse, liver disease, diabetes, gall stones and low bone density. The sweat test is the most useful diagnostic test for CF.
The Ayurvedic treatment of CF is aimed at liquefying the thick sticky mucous, preventing blockage in secretory organs and preventing or controlling infections. Medicines which act on the ‘Ras’ and ‘Rakta’ dhatus (tissues) of the body are useful in this condition. These medicines include Indrayav (Holharrhina antidysentrica), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Patha ( Cissampelos pareira) and Musta (Cyperus rotundus). Other medicines which are useful in this condition are Arogya-Vardhini, Triphala-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Gokshuradi-Guggulu and Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu. Medicines like Sunthi (Zinziber officinalis), Marich (Piper nigrum) and Pippali (Piper longum), which are collectively called Trikatu; and medicines like Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Behada (Terminalia bellerica) and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), which are collectively known as Triphala; are very useful in this condition, and have to be given on a long term basis, or probably life long, in very small doses.
Since this is an inherited disorder, life long life-style changes need to be made. Good self care includes eating a healthy diet, washing and exercising frequently, drinking lots of fluids, doing chest physical therapy regularly and taking medicines as prescribed. It is important that all such patients be under the regular care and supervision of a medical team which specializes in CF.
By: Abdulmubeen Mundewadi
About the Author:
This documentary short explores the struggles of living with cystic fibrosis. Produced by and for Current TV.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease of humans caused by homozygosity for a recessive gene (aa). In a particular large population, the frequency of newborns affected wth cystic fibrosis is 1 in 3,600. In this population, what proportion of marriages between genetically unrelated normal individuals is at risk of producing a child affected with cystic fibrosis? Is it:
1 family in 30
1 family in 300
1 family in 36
1 family in 900
1 family in 15
My friend had a little girl 2 weeks ago and today @ her 2 week check up she was told that the CF test they do in the hospital @ birth came back positive and they are re-testing and she will have results in 3 weeks. They also told her there is a high “false positive” rate.
Has anyone heard of this?
I am a CF carrier, and had to go to genetic counseling when my husband and I were in infertility treatment (he ended up not being a carrier) and never heard of this screen on infants…do they do it to them all? Are there false positives?? I just want to ease her mind.
My friend had a little girl 2 weeks ago and today @ her 2 week check up she was told that the CF test they do in the hospital @ birth came back positive and they are re-testing and she will have results in 3 weeks. They also told her there is a high “false positive” rate.
Has anyone heard of this?
I am a CF carrier, and had to go to genetic counseling when my husband and I were in infertility treatment (he ended up not being a carrier) and never heard of this screen on infants…do they do it to them all? Are there false positives?? I just want to ease her mind.
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