Cystic fibrosis is one of the diseases that results from the formation of sticky mucus with a glue-like texture, which accumulates in the body and leads to the emergence of several problems in the internal organs of the body, especially in the lungs and pancreas.
People with cystic fibrosis may suffer from difficulty breathing and various lung diseases, in addition to problems with nutrition, digestion, growth, and development.
Symptoms of cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is usually diagnosed at a very young age, and although the symptoms that accompany cystic fibrosis vary depending on the condition, there are very distinct symptoms that appear in children with cystic fibrosis. Among these symptoms we mention the following:
* Obstruction in the small intestine at birth, which prevents the child from having the first defecation immediately after birth.
*Very salty sweat.
* Diarrhea.
*Growth disorders and weight gain.
*Breathing problems.
*Lung infection.
*Bad cough.
*Wheezing in the lungs.
*There are other symptoms that may appear in early childhood, including the following:
* Hand clenching, where the fingers are rounded and flattened.
* Rectal prolapse, which is the protrusion of part of the rectum from the anus.
*Enlargement of the nose or sinuses.
Causes of cystic fibrosis:
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease, and both the mother and father must be carriers of the gene that causes the disease in order for the child to be affected.
Complications of cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis may cause many complications in many organs of the body, such as: the digestive system, the respiratory system, and the reproductive system.
Diagnosis of cystic fibrosis:
Symptoms of cystic fibrosis appear in most people since childhood, and examinations of the lungs are performed before any symptoms appear.
If the results of the tests are positive for the newborn, or if some symptoms appear that indicate cystic fibrosis, the treating physician will recommend performing a sweat test to examine the level of salinity, as people with cystic fibrosis appear to have high levels of salinity in their sweat compared to normal levels. Two consecutive tests are performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Cystic fibrosis treatment:
There is no complete cure for cystic fibrosis, but some available treatments can be used. To improve the patient's quality of life.
The type of cystic fibrosis treatment a patient receives varies, depending on the health problems the disease causes and how his body responds to different treatments.
Most people get a combination of medical treatment and some home remedies that can alleviate the condition.
Cystic fibrosis prevention
Cystic fibrosis is one of the genetic diseases that cannot be prevented, but some things can be followed to prevent complications resulting from cystic fibrosis, such as the following:
*Ensure you receive all recommended vaccines.
*Refrain from smoking or exposure to passive smoking.
*Use appropriate techniques to clean the lung cavity and respiratory tract, such as drainage when standing, and patting the chest.
*Consuming nutritious foods with a high level of calories.
*Submit to regular medical monitoring, and be sure to implement the treatment plan suggested by the doctor.
*In addition, parents of a newborn who has been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis are advised to take care of the child in the home environment, and avoid sending him to a nursery until he reaches the age of at least six months, or one year.
.jpg)
.jpg)