The respiratory, endocrine, reproductive, and digestive systems are all impacted by the chronic illness known as cystic fibrosis. In the US, about 35,000 adults and children suffer from cystic fibrosis.
The nickname “65 Roses” comes from a young child who mispronounced the name of the disease as “sixty-five roses.” This phrase was chosen by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to increase awareness and facilitate conversations about the illness among kids and families. In this health condition, a faulty gene that causes the body to produce extremely thick, sticky mucus causes several health problems. This mucus causes lung infections by clogging the lungs.
It hinders the body’s capacity to create insulin, blocks the pancreas, and stops the body from breaking down and using food normally.
It also affects gastrointestinal function because of the increased mucus in the intestines, resulting in loose stools or constipation.
Most men with cystic fibrosis are sterile because they either have a blocked vas deferens or no vas deferens at all.
Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis
Among the many symptoms that people with CF may experience are:
Skin that tastes salty
Coughing every day, sometimes with mucous
Infections of the lung
Breathlessness Slow weight gain or poor growth, even with a healthy appetite
Regular oily, heavy, and odorous stools or difficulty passing gas.
Causes of Cystic Fibrosis
The illness known as cystic fibrosis is inherited. This implies that it is passed down through genes (or DNA) from parents.
To have cystic fibrosis, a person must inherit two copies of the faulty CF gene, one from each parent. The gene does not affect carriers.
How to detect Cystic Fibrosis?
Newborn screening detects cystic fibrosis (CF) through a two-step process:
Immunoreactive Trypsinogen (IRT) Test – A blood sample from a heel prick checks for elevated levels of IRT, a protein produced by the pancreas. High levels may indicate CF or other conditions.
Genetic Testing – If IRT levels are high, DNA analysis identifies common CFTR gene mutations associated with CF.
If both tests suggest CF, a sweat chloride test is conducted to confirm the diagnosis. Early detection helps initiate timely treatment, improving the child’s quality of life.
How to detect Cystic Fibrosis?
There is no “typical” day because CF lung infections flare up occasionally and the severity of the disease varies from person to person. But every day, the majority of CF patients:
To aid in the digestion of fat and protein, take capsules of a pancreatic enzyme supplement with every meal and most snacks. Enzymes may be necessary even for nursing infants.
Make sure to take a variety of vitamins, including the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Eat salty snacks or season food with salt to ensure they get enough salt.
Consume a diet rich in calories and protein.
At least twice a day, and perhaps four or more, clear the lungs. This is accomplished by methods known as “Clearance of Airways.” Infants are clapped on the chest in a certain manner. A treatment vest that shakes the chest wall is one of the many methods used to treat toddlers, kids, and adults. This reduces the risk of lung infection and aids in the removal of the heavy mucus from the lungs.
Use aerosolized medications, which are liquid medications that are turned into an aerosol or mist and then inhaled using a nebulizer. Aerosolized medications come in a variety of forms and have a variety of functions, including clearing the airways, reducing mucus, and preventing infections.
The medications and therapies required are determined by each child’s physician. Hence, early detection is the key and one can get it managed by detecting early with a newborn screening test!