$Unique_ID{PAR00051}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Cystic Fibrosis}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Cystic Fibrosis frequent respiratory infections infection bronchitis
pneumonia Chronic cough coughing no weight gain constipation diarrhea
foul-smelling stools rectal Protrusion rectum fingertip Broadening fingertips
toe Broad toes Salty skin sweat test lungs pancreas liver inherited gene
inherit genes}
$Log{
Secretions of Cystic Fibrosis*0005101.tif}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Cystic Fibrosis


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Frequent respiratory infections
     - Frequent bronchitis or pneumonia
     - Chronic cough
     - Failure to gain weight
     - Frequent constipation or diarrhea with foul-smelling stools
     - Protrusion of the rectum
     - Broadening of fingertips and toes
     - Salty taste to the skin when kissed

     HOME CARE
     - If you suspect cystic fibrosis, see your doctor.  If cystic fibrosis is
       diagnosed, follow the doctor's instructions for home care.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - If your child shows any symptoms of cystic fibrosis, ask your doctor to
       perform a sweat test.
     - If there is any history of cystic fibrosis in your family, a sweat test
       should be considered for all children (even if they appear healthy).
       The sweat test is not reliable before the age of one month and is less
       reliable during adolescence.
     - The earlier cystic fibrosis is diagnosed and treated, the better the
       outcome.


     Cystic fibrosis is a chronic (lifelong), inherited disease.  It affects
the lungs, pancreas, sweat glands, and sometimes the liver and other organs.
     Cystic fibrosis is passed from parents to child through a particular
gene.  (The genes are the parts of the body's cells that determine such
inherited characteristics as hair and eye color and blood type).  To inherit
cystic fibrosis, a child must receive that particular abnormal gene from both
parents.  A child who receives the abnormal gene for cystic fibrosis from only
one parent will not have the disease.  A person who carries the gene but does
not have the disease is known as a "healthy carrier."  When both parents are
healthy carriers, there is a 25 percent risk that any one of their children
will receive the gene from both parents and suffer from the disease.  Five
percent of white persons, 2 percent of American black persons, and less than 1
percent of Oriental and native African black persons are healthy carriers.
One in 2,000 white children in the United States has cystic fibrosis.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Cystic fibrosis may appear at birth as an obstruction or blocking of the
intestines.  Symptoms may also appear during infancy or childhood or sometimes
as late as adolescence.
     Some common symptoms of cystic fibrosis are frequent respiratory
infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia; chronic cough; failure to gain
adequate weight; constipation or diarrhea with foul-smelling stools;
protrusion of the rectum; and clubbing (broadening) of the fingertips and
toes.  Almost all persons with cystic fibrosis have unusually salty sweat; the
first sign of cystic fibrosis is often the very salty taste of the child's
skin when kissed.

HOME CARE

     If you have any reason to suspect that your child has cystic fibrosis,
see your doctor.  If cystic fibrosis is diagnosed, home treatment will be
directed by your doctor.  Treatment at home may include taking antibiotics,
following a special diet, taking pancreatic enzymes by mouth, inhaling vapor
and medications, and postural drainage (a technique for placing the child in
specific positions and tapping over the chest to allow excess fluids to drain
from the lungs).

PRECAUTIONS

  -  If your child shows any signs of cystic fibrosis, a sweat test should be
     done.  A sweat test is a painless, harmless, inexpensive, and generally
     reliable test for cystic fibrosis.
  -  If there is any history of cystic fibrosis in the family, a sweat test
     should be considered for all children, even if they appear to be healthy.
  -  The sweat test is not reliable before the age of one month and is not as
     reliable during adolescence.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     The doctor will perform a sweat test and may also order a chest x-ray
study.  If cystic fibrosis is diagnosed, your doctor will most likely refer
you to a medical center where there are specialists in treating cystic
fibrosis.
     The outlook for a child with cystic fibrosis who is in relatively good
health is better now than in the past, but a cure for cystic fibrosis is still
being sought.  The earlier the diagnosis is made and treatment is started, the
better the outcome.