Cystic fibrosis (cf)

[Merna]

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that causes certain glands to produce abnormal secretions, resulting in tissue and organ damage, especially in the lungs and the digestive tract.

Cystic fibrosis is caused by inherited genetic mutations that cause thick, sticky secretions to clog the lungs and other organs.
Typical symptoms include abdominal bloating, loose stools, and poor weight gain as well as coughing, wheezing, and frequent respiratory tract infections throughout life.
The diagnosis is based on sweat test results and/or genetic testing.
About half of the people with this disease in the United States are adults.
Treatments include antibiotics, bronchodilators, drugs to thin lung secretions, airway clearance treatments for respiratory problems, supplements of pancreatic enzymes and vitamins for digestive problems, and drugs to improve the function of the cystic fibrosis protein in people with certain mutations.
Some people benefit from liver and lung transplantation.

Cystic fibrosis is the most common inherited disease leading to a shortened life span among white people. In the United States, it occurs in about 1 of 3,300 white infants and in 1 of 15,300 black infants. It is rare in Asians. Because improvements in treatment have extended life expectancy for people with cystic fibrosis, about half of people in the United States with this disease are adults. Cystic fibrosis is equally common among boys and girls.