Paper On Cystic Fibrosis

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The topic I chose to do my paper on is cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease of the secretory glands, this includes the glands that make mucus and sweat. The disease is passed through the genes from parents to children meaning it is inherited. The people that get cystic fibrosis inherit two faulty cystic fibrosis genes, one from each parent. The parents that pass these genes likely don’t have the disease themselves. Cystic fibrosis mostly affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses, and sex organs. Mucus is a substance made by the lining of some body tissues. Mucus keeps the lining of certain organs moist and it prevents the organs from drying out or getting infected. Normally, mucus is a slippery,…show more content…
Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common inherited diseases among Caucasians and about 1,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed each year. Cystic fibrosis affects both males and females and people from all racial and ethnic groups, however the disease is most common among Caucasians of Northern European descent. The disease is also common among Latinos and Native Americans, especially Pueblo and Zuni and is much less common among African Americans and Asian Americans. Approximately 12 million Americans are carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene and don’t even know they are…show more content…
Newborn screening is done by most states using a genetic test or blood test. The genetic test shows if the newborn has a faulty CFTR gene and the blood test shows whether a newborn’s pancreas is working. If the genetic test or blood test suggests cystic fibrosis, then the doctor will do another test to confirm if it really is cystic fibrosis, the test that will confirm this is called a sweat test. The sweat test is the most useful test for diagnosing the disease and it measures the amount of salt that is in the babies sweat. To accomplish this test, the doctor trigger sweating on a small patch of skin and rub the skin with sweat producing chemical and then use an electrode to provide a mild electrical current. This causes warm or tingling feelings causing the baby to sweat. Sweat is then collected on a pad or paper to be analyzed. This test is done twice to confirm the right salt content and a high level confirms a diagnosis for cystic fibrosis. Once the doctor confirms that the baby does have cystic fibrosis, other tests will be done as recommened by the doctor. A chest x-ray will be done to show whether the lungs are inflamed or scarred or whether they trap air. A sinus x-ray test may show signs of sinusitis, which is a complication of cystic fibrosis. Another test that is done is a lung function test. This test measures the size of your lungs and how much air you can

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