Children with Cystic Fibrosis: Causes, Symptoms, Remedies, Treatment

This is an inherited disease (that has been passed on from parents to young ones). Children with cystic fibrosis can be easily affected with infections. In such cases a number of tissues in the body produce mucus that is abnormally thick.

For example:

• In normal cases the lining of the air passages in the lungs produce thin mucus that keeps the lining moist.
  But in cystic fibrosis the mucus is thickened and blocks the air passages and makes it susceptible to infection.
• The intestine of the fetus which is filled with meconium also contains mucus. So a body with cystic fibrosis may develop a blocked intestine during the initial days of life.
• Pancreas can also be affected by cystic fibrosis. Pancreas produces digestive juices. Food will not be digested properly if it is affected by cystic fibrosis. Because of this the child’s bowels are loose, fatty and foul smelling.

What You Can Do

• There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis.
• To diagnose cystic fibrosis the amount of salt that is present in the sweat is tested.
• Early diagnosis helps prevent damage to the lungs.
• Children with Cystic Fibrosis may suffer from chest infections. Antibiotics are usually prescribed because they are likely to be bacterial.
• Chest physiotherapy is quite beneficial for Cystic Fibrosis. The child should be made to lie with head downwards. Then pat on the chest with cupped hands to dislodge (remove) thick phlegm. Doing this daily has shown wonderful results.
• Affected children will need special enzyme supplements and also vitamin supplements because of poor digestion and absorption.
• Affected children should eat a low fat diet.

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• Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis | Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis  -  What causes Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder with autosomal recessive transmission. All the exocrine glands in the body especially those in respiratory and gastro-intestinal systems are involved...
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• Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy | Recombinant DNA Technology  -  Gene Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis Since there is at present no effective treatment for most genetic disorders the role lies mainly in the prevention of such conditions through genetic counseling...

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